Turton Appb PDF

Turton_AppB_Part1.
qxd 5/11/12 12:21 AM Page 61
A P P E N D I X
B
Information
for the Preliminary
Design of Fifteen
Chemical Processes
The purpose of the process designs contained in this appendix is to provide the reader
with a preliminary description of several common chemical processes. The designs pro-
vided are the result of preliminary simulation using the CHEMCAD process simulation
software and often contain simplifying assumptions such as ideal column behavior
(shortcut method using the Underwood-Gilliland method) and in some cases the use of
ideal thermodynamics models (K-value = ideal gas, enthalpy = ideal). These designs are
used throughout the book in the end-of-chapter problems and provide a starting point for
detailed design. The authors recognize that there are additional complicating factors,
such as nonideal phase equilibrium behavior (such as azeotrope formation and phase
separation), feed stream impurities, different catalyst selectivity, side reaction formation,
and so on. The presence of any one of these factors may give rise to significant changes
from the preliminary designs shown here. Thus, the student, if asked to perform a de-
tailed process design of these (or other) processes, should take the current designs as only
a starting point and should be prepared to do further research into the process to ensure
that a more accurate and deeper understanding of the factors involved is obtained.
Following is a list of the sections and projects discussed in this appendix:
B.1 Dimethyl Ether (DME) Production, Unit 200

B.2 Ethylbenzene Production, Unit 300
B.3 Styrene Production, Unit 400
B.4 Drying Oil Production, Unit 500
B.5 Production of Maleic Anhydride from Benzene, Unit 600
B.6 Ethylene Oxide Production, Unit 700
B.7 Formalin Production, Unit 800
B.8 Batch Production of L-Phenylalanine and L-Aspartic Acid, Unit 900
B.9 Acrylic Acid Production via the Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Propylene,
Unit 1000
B.10 Production of Acetone via the Dehydrogenation of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA),
Unit 1100
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62 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes
B.11 Production of Heptenes from Propylene and Butenes, Unit 1200

B.12 Design of a Shift Reactor Unit to Convert CO to CO2, Unit 1300
B.13 Design of a Dual-Stage Selexol Unit to Remove CO2 and H2S from Coal-
Derived Synthesis Gas, Unit 1400
B.14 Design of a Claus Unit for the Conversion of H2S to Elemental Sulfur, Unit
1500
B.15 Modeling a Downward-Flow, Oxygen-Blown, Entrained-Flow Gasifier,
Unit 1600
B.1 DIMETHYL ETHER (DME) PRODUCTION, UNIT 200
DME is used primarily as an aerosol propellant. It is miscible with most organic solvents,
has a high solubility in water, and is completely miscible in water and 6% ethanol [1]. Re-
cently, the use of DME as a fuel additive for diesel engines has been investigated due to
its high volatility (desirable for cold starting) and high cetane number. The production of
DME is via the catalytic dehydration of methanol over an acid zeolite catalyst. The main
reaction is
2CH3OH → (CH3)2O + H2O (B.1.1)
methanol DME
In the temperature range of normal operation, there are no significant side reactions.
B.1.1 Process Description

A preliminary process flow diagram for a DME process is shown in Figure B.1.1, in which
50,000 metric tons per year of 99.5 wt% purity DME product is produced. Due to the sim-
plicity of the process, an operating factor greater than 0.95 (8375 h/y) is used.
Fresh methanol, Stream 1, is combined with recycled reactant, Stream 13, and vapor-
ized prior to being sent to a fixed-bed reactor operating between 250°C and 370°C. The
single-pass conversion of methanol in the reactor is 80%. The reactor effluent, Stream 7,
is then cooled prior to being sent to the first of two distillation columns: T-201 and
T-202. DME product is taken overhead from the first column. The second column sepa-
rates the water from the unused methanol. The methanol is recycled back to the front end
of the process, and the water is sent to wastewater treatment to remove trace amounts of
organic compounds.
Stream summaries, utility summaries, and equipment summaries are presented in
Tables B.1.1–B.1.3.
V-201 E-201 E-203 T-201 E-204 E-205 V-202 P-202A/B E-206 T-202 E-207 V-203 P-203A/B E-208
Feed Methanol DME DME DME DME DME DME Reflux Methanol Methanol Methanol Methanol Methanol Wastewater
Turton_AppB_Part1.qxd
Vessel Preheater Cooler Tower Reboiler Condenser Reflux Pumps Reboiler Tower Condenser Reflux Pumps Cooler
Drum Drum
P-201A/B E-202 R-201
Feed Pump Reactor Reactor
Cooler
5/11/12
DME
Methanol 46 10
1 10.3 E-205
R-201
12:21 AM
LIC V-201 T-201

cw 13
1
16 V-202 LIC
Page 63
2
12 121
6 FIC E-207
P-202A/B 7.3
9
P-201A/B FIC
22
3 5 cw
T-202
LIC
1
mps mps 139 17 LIC
V-203
E-201 8
7.4
E-202 TIC
11 14
cw 12
FIC
E-204 P-203A/B
4 7 26
E-203 LIC
mps
cw Wastewater
o
Temperature, C 14 15
Pressure, bar E-206
E-208
Figure B.1.1 Unit 200: Dimethyl Ether Process Flow Diagram
63
64
Table B.1.1 Stream Table for Unit 200

5/11/12
Stream Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Temperature (°C) 25 25 45 154 250 364 278 100
Pressure (bar) 1.0 15.5 15.2 15.1 14.7 13.9 13.8 13.4
12:21 AM
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0798
Mass flow (tonne/h) 8.37 8.37 10.49 10.49 10.49 10.49 10.49 10.49
Mole flow (kmol/h) 262.2 262.2 328.3 328.3 328.3 328.3 328.3 328.3
Page 64
Component flowrates (kmol/h)

Dimethyl ether 0.0 0.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 130.5 130.5 130.5
Methanol 259.7 259.7 323.0 323.0 323.0 64.9 64.9 64.9
Water 2.5 2.5 3.8 3.8 3.8 132.9 132.9 132.9
Stream Number 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Temperature (oC) 89 46 153 139 121 167 50 46 121
Pressure (bar) 10.4 11.4 10.5 7.4 15.5 7.6 1.2 11.4 7.3
Vapor fraction 0.148 0.0 0.0 0.04 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 10.49 5.97 4.52 4.52 2.13 2.39 2.39 2.17 3.62
Mole flow (kmol/h) 328.3 129.7 198.6 198.6 66.3 132.3 132.3 47.1 113.0
Dimethyl ether 130.5 129.1 1.4 1.4 1.4 0.0 0.0 46.9 2.4
Methanol 64.9 0.6 64.3 64.3 63.6 0.7 0.7 0.2 108.4
Water 132.9 0.0 132.9 132.9 1.3 131.6 131.6 0.0 2.2
Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 65
Table B.1.2 Utility Summary Table for Unit 200

E-201 E-203 E-204 E-205 E-206 E-207 E-208
mps cw mps cw mps cw cw
7220 kg/h 297,100 kg/h 1250 kg/h 75,120 kg/h 2900 kg/h 142,600 kg/h 28,700 kg/h
Table B.1.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 200
Heat Exchangers
E-201 E-205
A = 99.4 m2 A = 100.6 m2
Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design Fixed head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Process stream in tubes Process stream in shell
Q = 14,400 MJ/h Q = 3140 MJ/h
Maximum pressure rating of 15 bar Maximum pressure rating of 10 bar
E-202 E-206
A = 171.0 m2 A = 83.0 m2
Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Process stream in tubes and shell Process stream in shell
Q = 2030 MJ/h Q = 5790 MJ/h
E-203 E-207
A = 101.8 m2 A = 22.7m2
Process stream in shell Process stream in shell
Q = 12,420 MJ/h Q = 5960 MJ/h
E-204 E-208
A = 22.0 m2 A = 22.8 m2
Q = 2490 MJ/h Q = 1200 MJ/h
Pumps
P-201 A/B P-202 A/B
Reciprocating/electric drive Centrifugal/electric drive
Carbon steel Carbon steel
Power = 7.2 kW (actual) Power = 5.2 kW (actual)
60% efficient 40% efficient
Pressure out = 15.5 bar Pressure out = 16 bar
P-202 A/B
Centrifugal/electric drive
Carbon steel
Power = 1.0 kW (actual)
40% efficient
Pressure out = 11.4 bar
(continued)
Table B.1.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 200 (Continued)

Reactor
R-201
Carbon steel
Packed-bed section 7.2 m high filled with
catalyst
Diameter = 0.72 m
Height = 10 m
Maximum pressure rating of 14.7 bar
Towers
T-201 T-202
22 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser 26 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser
24-in tray spacing 18-in tray spacing
Column height = 15.8 m Column height = 14.9 m
Diameter = 0.79 m Diameter = 0.87 m
Maximum pressure rating of 10.6 bar Maximum pressure rating of 7.3 bar
Vessels
V-201 V-203
Horizontal Horizontal
Length = 3.42 m Length = 2.53 m
Maximum pressure rating of 1.1 bar Maximum pressure rating of 7.3 bar
V-202
Horizontal
Carbon steel
Length = 2.89 m
Diameter = 0.98 m
Maximum pressure rating of 10.3 bar
B.1.2 Reaction Kinetics

The reaction taking place is mildly exothermic with a standard heat of reaction,
ΔHreac(25°C) = –11,770 kJ/kmol. The equilibrium constant for this reaction at three differ-
ent temperatures is given below:
T Kp
473 K (200°C) 92.6
573 K (300°C) 52.0
673 K (400°C) 34.7
The corresponding equilibrium conversions for pure methanol feed over the above tem-
perature range are greater than 99%. Thus this reaction is kinetically controlled at the con-
ditions used in this process.
The reaction takes place on an amorphous alumina catalyst treated with 10.2%
silica. There are no significant side reactions at less than 400°C. At greater than 250°C the
rate equation is given by Bondiera and Naccache [2] as:
− E0
− rmethanol k0 exp RT p methanol (B.1.2)
where k0 = 1.21 106 kmol/(m3cat.h.kPa), E0 = 80.48 kJ/mol, and pmethanol = partial pres-
sure of methanol (kPa).
Significant catalyst deactivation occurs at temperatures greater than 400°C, and the re-
actor should be designed so that this temperature is not exceeded anywhere in the reactor.
The design given in Figure B.1.1 uses a single packed bed of catalyst, which operates adia-
batically. The temperature exotherm occurring in the reactor of 118°C is probably on the
high side and gives an exit temperature of 368°C. However, the single-pass conversion is
quite high (80%), and the low reactant concentration at the exit of the reactor tends to limit
the possibility of a runaway.
In practice the catalyst bed might be split into two sections, with an intercooler be-
tween the two beds. This has an overall effect of increasing the volume (and cost) of the
reactor and should be investigated if catalyst damage is expected at temperatures lower
than 400°C. In-reactor cooling (shell-and-tube design) and cold quenching by splitting the
feed and feeding at different points in the reactor could also be investigated as viable al-
ternative reactor configurations.
B.1.3 Simulation (CHEMCAD) Hints

The DME-water binary system exhibits two liquid phases when the DME concentration is
in the 34% to 93% range [2]. However, upon addition of 7% or more alcohol, the mixture
becomes completely miscible over the complete range of DME concentration. In order to
ensure that this nonideal behavior is simulated correctly, it is recommended that binary
vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for the three pairs of components be used in order to
regress binary interaction parameters (BIPs) for a UNIQUAC/UNIFAC thermodynamics
model. If VLE data for the binary pairs are not used, then UNIFAC can be used to esti-
mate BIPs, but these should be used only as preliminary estimates. As with all nonideal
systems, there is no substitute for designing separation equipment using data regressed
from actual (experimental) VLE.
B.1.4 References
1. “DuPont Talks about Its DME Propellant,” Aerosol Age, May and June 1982.
2. Bondiera, J., and C. Naccache, “Kinetics of Methanol Dehydration in Dealuminated
H-Mordenite: Model with Acid and Basic Active Centres,” Applied Catalysis 69
(1991): 139–148.
B.2 ETHYLBENZENE PRODUCTION, UNIT 300
The majority of ethylbenzene (EB) processes produce EB for internal consumption within
a coupled process that produces styrene monomer. The facility described here produces
80,000 tonne/y of 99.8 mol% ethylbenzene that is totally consumed by an on-site styrene
facility. As with most EB/styrene facilities, there is significant heat integration between
the two plants. In order to decouple the operation of the two plants, the energy integra-
tion is achieved by the generation and consumption of steam within the two processes.
The EB reaction is exothermic, so steam is produced, and the styrene reaction is endother-
mic, so energy is transferred in the form of steam.
B.2.1 Process Description [1, 2]

The PFD for the EB process is shown in Figure B.2.1. A refinery cut of benzene is fed from
storage to an on-site process vessel (V-301), where it is mixed with the recycled benzene.
From V-301, it is pumped to a reaction pressure of approximately 2000 kPa (20 atm) and
sent to a fired heater (H-301) to bring it to reaction temperature (approximately 400°C).
The preheated benzene is mixed with feed ethylene just prior to entering the first stage of
a reactor system consisting of three adiabatic packed-bed reactors (R-301 to R-303), with
interstage feed addition and cooling. Reaction occurs in the gas phase and is exothermic.
The hot, partially converted reactor effluent leaves the first packed bed, is mixed with
more feed ethylene, and is fed to E-301, where the stream is cooled to 380°C prior to pass-
ing to the second reactor (R-302), where further reaction takes place. High-pressure steam
is produced in E-301, and this steam is subsequently used in the styrene unit. The effluent
stream from R-302 is similarly mixed with feed ethylene and is cooled in E-302 (with gen-
eration of high-pressure steam) prior to entering the third and final packed-bed reactor,
R-303. The effluent stream leaving the reactor contains products, by-products, unreacted
benzene, and small amounts of unreacted ethylene and other noncondensable gases. The
reactor effluent is cooled in two waste-heat boilers (E-303 and E-304), in which high-
pressure and low-pressure steam, respectively, is generated. This steam is also consumed
in the styrene unit. The two-phase mixture leaving E-304 is sent to a trim cooler (E-305),
where the stream is cooled to 80°C, and then to a two-phase separator (V-302), where the
light gases are separated and, because of the high ethylene conversion, are sent overhead
as fuel gas to be consumed in the fired heater. The condensed liquid is then sent to the
benzene tower, T-301, where the unreacted benzene is separated as the overhead product
and returned to the front end of the process. The bottoms product from the first column is
sent to T-302, where product EB (at 99.8 mol% and containing less than 2 ppm diethylben-
zene [DEB]) is taken as the top product and is sent directly to the styrene unit. The bot-
toms product from T-302 contains all the DEB and trace amounts of higher ethylbenzenes.
This stream is mixed with recycle benzene and passes through the fired heater (H-301)
prior to being sent to a fourth packed-bed reactor (R-304), in which the excess benzene is
reacted with the DEB to produce EB and unreacted benzene. The effluent from this reac-
tor is mixed with the liquid stream entering the waste-heat boiler (E-303).
Stream summary tables, utility summary tables, and major equipment specifications
are shown in Tables B.2.1–B.2.3.

The production of EB takes place via the direct addition reaction between ethylene and
benzene:
C6H6 + C2H4 → C6H5C2H5 (B.2.1)
benzene ethylene ethylbenzene
The reaction between EB and ethylene to produce DEB also takes place:
C6H5C2H5 + C2H4 → C6H4(C2H5)2 (B.2.2)
ethylbenzene ethylene diethylbenzene
Additional reactions between DEB and ethylene yielding triethylbenzene (and higher) are
also possible. However, in order to minimize these additional reactions, the molar ratio of
benzene to ethylene is kept high, at approximately 8:1. The production of DEB is undesir-
able, and its value as a side product is low. In addition, even small amounts of DEB in EB
cause significant processing problems in the downstream styrene process. Therefore, the
maximum amount of DEB in EB is specified as 2 ppm. In order to maximize the produc-
tion of the desired EB, the DEB is separated and returned to a separate reactor in which
excess benzene is added to produce EB via the following equilibrium reaction:
C6H4(C2H5)2 + C6H6 A 2C6H5C2H5 (B.2.3)
diethylbenzene benzene ethylbenzene
The incoming benzene contains a small amount of toluene impurity. The toluene reacts
with ethylene to form ethyl benzene and propylene:
C6H5CH3 + 2C2H4 → C6H5C2H5 + C3H6 (B.2.4)
toluene ethylbenzene propylene
The reaction kinetics derived for a new catalyst are given as

–ri = ko,i e–Ei/RTCethylene
a b
CEB c
CtolueneC dbenzeneCDEB
e
(B.2.5)
where i is the reaction number above (B.2.i), and the following relationships pertain:
i Ei ko,i a b c d e
kcal/kmol
1 22,500 1.00 × 106 1 0 0 1 0
2 22,500 6.00 × 105 1 1 0 0 0
3 25,000 7.80 × 106 0 0 0 1 1
4 20,000 3.80 × 108 2 0 1 0 0
The units of ri are kmol/s/m3-reactor, the units of Ci are kmol/m3-gas, and the units of ko,i
vary depending upon the form of the equation.
70
V-301 H-301 R-301/2/3 E-301/2 R-304 E-303 E-304 E-305 V-302 T-301 E-306 E-307 V-303 P-302 A/B T-302 E-308 E-309 V-304 P-303 A/B
Benzene Feed Ethylbenzene Reactor Trans- HP LP Reactor L/V Benzene Benzene Benzene Benzene Benzene EB EB EB EB EB
Feed Heater Reactors Inter- alkylation Steam Steam Effluent Separator To wer Reboiler Condenser Reflux Reflux To wer Reboiler Condenser Reflux Reflux
Drum coolers Reactor Boiler Boiler Cooler Drum Pumps Drum Pumps
P-301 A/B P-304 A/B P-305 A/B
Benzene DEB Benzene
Feed Recycle Recycle
Pumps Pumps Pumps
21 17
5/11/12
Benzene
1 2000 15
400 110
Fuel Gas
12:21 AM
380 380 V-302

cw E-307
LIC V-301
FIC
6
FIC LIC
3 R-302 V-303
Page 70
8 11 T- 301
110
H-301
R-301 R-303 16 P-302 A/B
P-301 A/B
FIC
LIC
hps hps
7 9 12
E-303 E-304 E-305
4 hps lps
E-301 E-302
P-305 A/B bfw
80 E-306
bfw lps Ethylbenzene
5 14
10
19
2 bfw bfw cw
18 cw E-309
Ethylene 280 170

22 FIC
500 V-304 LIC
23
13
T- 302 P-303 A/B
LIC
R-304
°C
E-308
kPa hps
2000
20
H-301
P-304 A/B
Figure B.2.1 Unit 300: Ethylbenzene Process Flow Diagram


Stream Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Temperature (°C) 25.0 25.0 58.5 25.0 25.0 383.3
Pressure (kPa) 110.0 2000.0 110.0 2000.0 2000.0 1985.0
Vapor mole fraction 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Total kg/h 7761.3 2819.5 17,952.2 845.9 986.8 18,797.9
Total kmol/h 99.0 100.0 229.2 30.0 35.0 259.2
Component Flowrates (kmol/h)
Ethylene 0.00 93.00 0.00 27.90 32.55 27.90
Ethane 0.00 7.00 0.00 2.10 2.45 2.10
Propylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Benzene 97.00 0.00 226.51 0.00 0.00 226.51
Toluene 2.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 2.00
Ethylbenzene 0.00 0.00 0.70 0.00 0.00 0.70
1,4-Diethylbenzene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Temperature (°C) 444.1 380.0 453.4 25.0 380.0 449.2
Pressure (kPa) 1970.0 1960.0 1945.0 2000.0 1935.0 1920.0
Total kg/h 18,797.9 19,784.7 19,784.7 986.8 20,771.5 20,771.5
Total kmol/h 234.0 269.0 236.4 35.0 271.4 238.7
Ethylene 0.85 33.40 0.62 32.55 33.17 0.54
Ethane 2.10 4.55 4.55 2.45 7.00 7.00
Propylene 1.83 1.81 2.00 0.00 2.00 2.00
Benzene 203.91 203.91 174.96 0.00 174.96 148.34
Toluene 0.19 0.19 0.0026 0.00 0.0026 0.00
Ethylbenzene 24.28 24.28 49.95 0.00 49.95 70.57
1,4-Diethylbenzene 0.87 0.87 4.29 0.00 4.29 10.30
(continued)
Table B.2.1 Stream Table for Unit 300 (Continued)
Stream Number 13 14 15 16 17 18
Temperature (°C) 497.9 458.1 73.6 73.6 81.4 145.4
Pressure (kPa) 1988.0 1920.0 110.0 110.0 105.0 120.0
Total kg/h 4616.5 25,387.9 1042.0 24,345.9 13,321.5 11,024.5
Total kmol/h 51.3 290.0 18.6 271.4 170.2 101.1
Ethylene 0.00 0.54 0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethane 0.00 7.00 7.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Propylene 0.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Benzene 29.50 177.85 8.38 169.46 169.23 0.17
Toluene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethylbenzene 21.69 92.25 0.71 91.54 0.92 90.63
1,4-Diethylbenzene 0.071 10.37 0.013 10.35 0.00 10.35
Stream Number 19 20 21 22 23
Temperature (°C) 139.0 191.1 82.6 82.6 121.4
Pressure (kPa) 110.0 140.0 2000.0 2000.0 2000.0
Vapor mole fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Total kg/h 9538.6 1485.9 10,190.9 3130.6 4616.5
Total kmol/h 89.9 11.3 130.2 40.0 51.3
Ethylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethane 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Propylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Benzene 0.17 0.00 129.51 39.78 39.78
Toluene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethylbenzene 89.72 0.91 0.70 0.22 1.12
1,4-Diethylbenzene 0.0001 10.35 0.00 0.00 10.35
bfw to bfw to bfw to bfw to cw to

Stream Name E-301 E-302 E-303 E-304 E-305
Flowrate (kg/h) 851 1121 4341 5424 118,300
lps to cw to hps to cw to
Stream Name E-306 tE-307 E-308* E-309
Flowrate (kg/h) 4362 174,100 3124 125,900
*
Throttled and desuperheated at exchanger

Heat Exchangers
E-301 E-306
A = 62.6 m2 A = 57.8 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel 1-2 exchanger, fixed head, carbon steel
Q = 1967 MJ/h Q = 9109 MJ/h
Maximum pressure rating of 2200 kPa Maximum pressure rating of 200 kPa
E-302 E-307
A = 80.1 m2 A = 54.6 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Q = 2592 MJ/h Q = 7276 MJ/h
E-303 E-308
A = 546 m2 A = 22.6 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel 1-2 exchanger, fixed head, carbon steel
Q = 10,080 MJ/h Q = 5281 MJ/h
E-304 E-309
A = 1567 m2 A = 17.5 m2
1-2 exchanger, fixed head, carbon steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Q = 12,367 MJ/h Q = 5262 MJ/h
E-305
A = 348 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Process stream in shell
Q = 4943 MJ/h
Maximum pressure rating of 2200 kPa
Fired Heater
H-301
Required heat load = 22,376 MJ/h
Design (maximum) heat load = 35,000
MJ/h
Tubes = Stainless steel
75% thermal efficiency
(continued)

Pumps
P-301 A/B P-304 A/B
Positive displacement/electric drive Centrifugal/electric drive
Actual power = 15 kW Actual power = 1.4 kW
Efficiency 75% Efficiency 80%
P-302 A/B P-305 A/B
Centrifugal/electric drive Positive displacement/electric drive
Actual power = 1 kW Actual power = 2.7 kW
P-303 A/B
Carbon steel
Actual power = 1 kW
Efficiency 75%
Reactors
R-301 R-303
316 stainless steel packed bed, ZSM-5 316 stainless steel packed bed, ZSM-5
molecular sieve catalyst molecular sieve catalyst
V = 20 m3 V = 30 m3
11 m long, 1.72 m diameter 12 m long, 1.97 m diameter
Maximum allowable catalyst temperature Maximum allowable catalyst temperature
= 500°C = 500°C
R-302 R-304
316 stainless steel packed bed, ZSM-5 316 stainless steel packed bed, ZSM-5
molecular sieve catalyst molecular sieve catalyst
V = 25 m3 V = 1.67 m3
12 m long, 1.85 m diameter 5 m long, 0.95 m diameter
Maximum allowable catalyst temperature Maximum allowable catalyst temperature
= 500°C 525°C
Towers
T-301 T-302
45 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and total 76 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and total
condenser condenser
42% efficient trays 45% efficient trays
Feed on tray 19 Feed on tray 56
Additional feed ports on trays 14 and 24 Additional feed ports on trays 50 and 62
Reflux ratio = 0.3874 Reflux ratio = 0.6608

Vessels
V-301 V-303
L/D = 5 L/D = 3
V = 7 m3 V = 7.7 m3
Maximum operating pressure = 250 kPa Maximum operating pressure = 300 kPa
V-302 V-304
Carbon steel with SS demister Carbon steel
Vertical Horizontal
L/D = 3 L/D = 3
V = 10 m3 V = 6.2 m3
Maximum operating pressure = 250 kPa Maximum operating pressure = 300 kPa

A CHEMCAD simulation is the basis for the design. The thermodynamics models used
were K-val = UNIFAC and Enthalpy = Latent Heat.
It should be noted that in the simulation a component separator was placed after the
high-pressure flash drum (V-302) in order to remove noncondensables from Stream 16
prior to entering T-301. This is done in order to avoid problems in simulating this tower. In
practice, the noncondensables would be removed from the overhead reflux drum, V-303,
after entering T-301.
As a first approach, both towers were simulated as Shortcut columns in the main
simulation, but subsequently each was simulated separately using the rigorous TOWER
module. Once the rigorous TOWER simulations were completed, they were substituted
back into the main flowsheet and the simulation was run again to converge. A similar ap-
proach is recommended. The rigorous TOWER module provides accurate design and
simulation data and should be used to assess column operation, but using the shortcut
simulations in the initial trials speeds up overall conversion of the flowsheet.
B.2.4 References
1. William J. Cannella, “Xylenes and Ethylbenzene,” Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemi-
cal Technology, online version (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2006).
2. “Ethylbenzene,” Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 20, ed.
J. J. McKetta (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984), 77–88.
B.3 STYRENE PRODUCTION, UNIT 400
Styrene is the monomer used to make polystyrene, which has a multitude of uses, the
most common of which are in packaging and insulated Styrofoam beverage cups. Styrene
is produced by the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene is formed by reacting
ethylene and benzene. There is very little ethylbenzene sold commercially, because most
ethylbenzene manufacturers convert it directly into styrene.

The process flow diagram is shown in Figure B.3.1. Ethylbenzene feed is mixed with re-
cycled ethylbenzene, heated, and then mixed with high-temperature, superheated
steam. Steam is an inert in the reaction, which drives the equilibrium shown in Equation
(B.3.1) to the right by reducing the concentrations of all components. Because styrene
formation is highly endothermic, the superheated steam also provides energy to drive
the reaction. Decomposition of ethylbenzene to benzene and ethylene, and hydrodealky-
lation to give methane and toluene, are unwanted side reactions shown in Equations
(B.3.2) and (B.3.3). The reactants then enter two adiabatic packed beds with interheating.
The products are cooled, producing steam from the high-temperature reactor effluent.
The cooled product stream is sent to a three-phase separator, in which light gases (hy-
drogen, methane, ethylene), organic liquid, and water exit in separate streams. The hy-
drogen stream is further purified as a source of hydrogen elsewhere in the plant. The
benzene/toluene stream is currently returned as a feed stream to the petrochemical facil-
ity. The organic stream containing the desired product is distilled once to remove the
benzene and toluene and distilled again to separate unreacted ethylbenzene for recycle
from the styrene product.
1
C6H5C2H5 [2 C6H5C2H3 + H2 (B.3.1)
ethylbenzene styrene hydrogen
C6H5C2H5 →
3
C6H6 + C2H4 (B.3.2)
ethylbenzene benzene ethylene
C6H5C2H5 + H2 →
4
C6H5CH3 + CH4 (B.3.3)
ethylbenzene hydrogen toluene methane
The styrene product can spontaneously polymerize at higher temperatures. Because

product styrene is sent directly to the polymerization unit, experience suggests that as
long as its temperature is maintained at less than 125°C, there is no spontaneous polymer-
ization problem. Because this is less than styrene’s normal boiling point, and because low
pressure pushes the equilibrium in Equation (B.3.1) to the right, much of this process is
run at vacuum.
Stream tables, utility summaries, and major equipment summaries are given in
Tables B.3.1, B.3.2, and B.3.3, respectively.

The styrene reaction may be equilibrium limited, and the equilibrium constant is given as
Equation (B.3.4).

ystyyhydP
K yeb (B.3.4)
14,852.6
In K 15.5408 −
T
where T is in K and P is in bar.
R-401 R-402 E-403 E-404 E-405 V-401 C-401 P-401a/b T-401 E-406 E-407 P-402a/b V-402 T-402 E-408 E-409
Styrene Styrene Product Product Product Three- Compressor Waste Benzene Reboiler Condenser Reflux Reflux Styrene Reboiler Condenser
Reactor Reactor Cooler Cooler Cooler Phase Water Toluene Pump Drum Column
Separator Pump Column
H-401 E-401 E-402 P-403 A/b P-404 A/b P-405 A/b P-406 A/b
Steam Feed Inter- Reflux Styrene Recycle Benzene/
Heater Heater Heater Pump Pump Pump Toluene
5/14/12
Pump
24
19
hps P-405 A/B
23
10:20 PM
1 2 3 7 Hydrogen
C-401
Ethylbenzene
E-401 6
26
17
Page 77
poc 14 E-406 Benzene

R-401 P-406 A/B Toluene
cw
FIC
H-401 ratio 8 T-401 FIC
V-401 V-402 LIC
E-402
5
4 25 16
to steam
9 P-402 A/B E-408
hps plant
cw
LIC
T-402 FIC LIC
ng air V-403
R-402
ratio
13 lps
10 15 18
E-407 P-403 A/B
E-403
bfw hps
cw LIC
bfw
11
Styrene
12 P-404 A/B
21
lps E-409 lps 20
E-404 E-405 P-401 A/B
22
Wastewater
Figure B.3.1 Unit 400: Styrene Process Flow Diagram
77
Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400

Temperature (°C) 136.0 116.0 240.0 253.7 800.0
Pressure (kPa) 200.0 190.0 170.0 4237.0 4202.0
Total flow (kg/h) 13,052.2 23,965.1 23,965.1 72,353.7 72,353.7
Total flow (kmol/h) 123.42 226.21 226.21 4016.30 4016.30
Water 0.00 0.00 0.00 4016.30 4016.30
Ethylbenzene 121.00 223.73 223.73 0.00 0.00
Styrene 0.00 0.06 0.06 0.00 0.00
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Benzene 1.21 1.21 1.21 0.00 0.00
Toluene 1.21 1.21 1.21 0.00 0.00
Ethylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Methane 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Temperature (°C) 722.0 566.6 504.3 550.0 530.1
Pressure (kPa) 170.0 160.0 150.0 135.0 125.0
Total flow (kg/h) 54,045.0 78,010.2 78,010.2 78,010.2 78,010.2
Total flow (kmol/h) 3000.00 3226.21 3317.28 3317.28 3346.41
Water 3000.00 3000.00 3000.00 3000.00 3000.00
Ethylbenzene 0.00 223.73 132.35 132.35 102.88
Styrene 0.00 0.06 91.06 91.06 120.09
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 90.69 90.69 119.38
Benzene 0.00 1.21 1.28 1.28 1.37
Toluene 0.00 1.21 1.52 1.52 1.86
Ethylene 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.07 0.16
Methane 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.31 0.65
(continued)
Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400 (Continued)

Temperature (°C) 267.0 180.0 65.0 65.0 65.0
Pressure (kPa) 110.0 95.0 80.0 65.0 65.0
Total flow (kg/h) 78,010.2 78,010.2 78,010.2 255.6 54,045.0
Total flow (kmol/h) 3346.41 3346.41 3346.41 120.20 3000.00
Water 3000.00 3000.00 3000.00 0.00 3000.00
Ethylbenzene 102.88 102.88 102.88 0.00 0.00
Styrene 120.09 120.09 120.09 0.00 0.00
Hydrogen 119.38 119.38 119.38 119.38 0.00
Benzene 1.37 1.37 1.37 0.00 0.00
Toluene 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.00 0.00
Ethylene 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.00
Methane 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.00
Temperature (°C) 65.0 69.9 125.0 90.8 123.7
Pressure (kPa) 65.0 45.0 65.0 25.0 55.0
Total flow (kg/h) 23,709.6 289.5 23,420.0 10,912.9 12,507.1
Total flow (kmol/h) 226.21 3.34 222.88 102.79 120.08
Water 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethylbenzene 102.88 0.10 102.78 102.73 0.05
Styrene 120.09 0.00 120.09 0.06 120.03
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Benzene 1.37 1.37 0.00 0.00 0.00
Toluene 1.86 1.86 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Methane 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Temperature (°C) 123.8 65.0 202.2 91.0 800.0
Pressure (kPa) 200.0 200.0 140.0 200.0 4202.0
Total flow (kg/h) 12,507.1 54,045.0 255.6 10,912.9 18,308.7
Total flow (kmol/h) 120.08 3000.00 120.20 102.79 1016.30
Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400 (Continued)

Water 0.00 3000.00 0.00 0.00 1016.30
Ethylbenzene 0.05 0.00 0.00 102.73 0.00
Styrene 120.03 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 119.38 0.00 0.00
Benzene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Toluene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ethylene 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.00
Methane 0.00 0.00 0.65 0.00 0.00
Stream Number 26
Temperature (°C) 70.0
Pressure (kPa) 200.00
Vapor mole fraction 0.00
Total flow (kg/h) 289.5
Total flow (kmol/h) 3.34
Water 0.00
Ethylbenzene 0.10
Styrene 0.00
Hydrogen 0.00
Benzene 1.37
Toluene 1.86
Ethylene 0.00
Methane 0.00
Table B.3.2 Utility Summary for Unit 400

E-401 E-403 E-404 E-405
hps bfw → hps bfw → lps cw
7982 kg/h 18,451 kg/h 5562 kg/h 3,269,746 kg/h
E-406 E-407 E-408 E-409

cw lps cw lps
309,547 kg/h 7550 kg/h 1,105,980 kg/h 21,811 kg/h

Compressors and Drives
C-401 D-401 A/B
Carbon steel Electric/explosion proof
W = 134 kW W = 136.7 kW
60% adiabatic efficiency 98% efficiency
Heat Exchangers*
E-401 E-406
A = 260 m2 A = 173 m2
Boiling in shell, condensing in tubes Process fluid in shell, cooling water in tubes
1 shell––2 tube passes 1 shell––2 tube passes
Q = 13,530 MJ/h Q = 12,951 MJ/h
E-402 E-407
316 stainless steel Carbon steel
A = 226 m2 A = 64 m2
Boiling in shell, process fluid in tubes Steam in shell, steam condensing in tubes
1 shell––2 tube passes Desuperheater––steam saturated at 150°C
Q = 8322 MJ/h 1 shell––2 tube passes
E-403 Q = 15,742 MJ/h
316 stainless steel E-408
A = 1457 m2 Carbon steel
Boiling in shell, process fluid in tubes A = 385 m2
1 shell––2 tube passes Process fluid in shell, cooling water in tubes
Q = 44,595 MJ/h 1 shell––2 tube passes
E-404 Q = 46,274 MJ/h
Carbon steel E-409
A = 702 m2 Carbon steel
Boiling in shell, process fluid in tubes A = 176 m2
1 shell––2 tube passes Boiling in shell, steam condensing in tubes
Q = 13,269 MJ/h Desuperheater––steam saturated at 150°C
E-405 1 shell––2 tube passes
316 stainless steel Q = 45,476 MJ/h
A = 1446 m2
cw in shell, process fluid in tubes
1 shell––2 tube passes
Q = 136,609 MJ/h
Fired Heater
H-401
Fired heater-refractory-lined, stainless-steel tubes
Design Q = 23.63 MW
Maximum Q = 25.00 MW

Pumps
P-401 A/B P-404 A/B
Centrifugal/electric drive Centrifugal/electric drive
Stainless steel Carbon steel
W = 2.59 kW (actual) W = 0.775 kW (actual)
P-402 A/B P-405 A/B
P-403 A/B P-406 A/B
Reactors
R-401 R-402
316 stainless steel, packed bed 316 stainless steel, packed bed
Cylindrical catalyst pellet (1.6 mm 3.2 mm) Cylindrical catalyst pellet (1.6 mm 3.2 mm)
Void fraction = 0.4 Void fraction = 0.4
V = 25 m3 V = 25 m3
9.26 m tall, 1.85 m diameter 9.26 m tall, 1.85 m diameter
Towers
T-401 T-402
D = 3.0 m D = 6.9 m
61 sieve trays 158 bubble cap trays
Feed on tray 31 Feed on tray 78
1-in weirs 1-in weirs
Column height = 61 ft = 18.6 m Column height = 79 ft = 24.1 m
Vessels
V-401 V-403
Carbon steel Horizontal
V = 26.8 m3 Carbon steel
L/D = 3
V = 5 m3
V-402
Horizontal
Carbon steel
L/D = 3
V = 5 m3
* See Figure B.3.1 and Table B.3.1 for shell- and tube-side pressures.
The equilibrium calculation is given as

1
C6H5C2H5 [2 C6H5C2H3 + H2
1 0 0
1-x x x
total = N + 1 + x includes N moles of inert steam

x2P
K (B.3.5)
(1 − x)(N 1 x)
where P is in bar.
Equation (B.3.5) can be used to generate data for equilibrium conversion, x, versus
P, T, and N.
The kinetic equations are adapted from Snyder and Subramaniam [3]. Subscripts on
r refer to reactions in Equations (B.3.1)–(B.3.3), and the positive activation energy can
arise from nonelementary kinetics; it is thought that perhaps these kinetics are an elemen-
tary approximation to nonelementary kinetics.

21,708
r1 10.177 1011 exp − peb (B.3.6)
RT
RT p p
7804
r2 20.965 exp sty hyd
(B.3.7)
exp −
RT
49675
r3 7.206 1011 p eb
(B.3.8)

26857
r4 1.724 106 exp − peb phyd (B.3.9)
RT
where p is in bar, T is in K, R = 1.987 cal/mol K, and ri is in mol/m3-reactor s.
You should assume that the catalyst has a bulk density of 1282 kg/m3, an effective
diameter of 25 mm, and a void fraction = 0.4.

Results for the simulation given here were obtained using SRK as the K-value and en-
thalpy options in the thermodynamics package.
B.3.4 References
1. Shiou-Shan Chen, “Styrene,” Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, online
version (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2006).
2. “Styrene,” Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 55, ed. J. J. McKetta,
(New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984), 197–217.
3. Snyder, J. D., and B. Subramaniam, “A Novel Reverse Flow Strategy for Ethyl-
benzene Dehydrogenation in a Packed-Bed Reactor,” Chem. Engr. Sci. 49 (1994):
5585–5601.
B.4 DRYING OIL PRODUCTION, UNIT 500
Drying oils are used as additives to paints and varnishes to aid in the drying process
when these products are applied to surfaces. The facility manufactures drying oil (DO)
from acetylated castor oil (ACO). Both of these compounds are mixtures. However, for
simulation purposes, acetylated castor oil is modeled as palmitic (hexadecanoic) acid
(C15H31COOH) and drying oil is modeled as 1-tetradecene (C14H28). In an undesired side
reaction, a gum can be formed, which is modeled as 1-octacosene (C28H56).

The process flow diagram is shown in Figure B.4.1. ACO is fed from a holding tank where
it is mixed with recycled ACO. The ACO is heated to reaction temperature in H-501. The
reaction does not require a catalyst, since it is initiated at high temperatures. The reactor,
R-501, is simply a vessel with inert packing to promote radial mixing. The reaction is
quenched in E-501. Any gum that has been formed is removed by filtration. There are two
holding vessels, V-502 A/B. One of them is used to hold reaction products, while the
other one feeds the filter (not shown). This allows a continuous flow of material into
Stream 7. In T-501 the ACO is separated and recycled, and in T-502, the DO is purified
from the acetic acid. The contents of Streams 11 and 12 are cooled (exchangers not shown)
and sent to storage.

The reactions and reaction kinetics are adapted from Smith [1] and are as follows:
k
C15H31COOH(l) S CH3COOH(g) C14H28(l)
1
(B.4.1)
ACO acetic acid DO
k2
2C14H28(l) S C28H56(s) (B.4.2)
DO gum
where
− r1 k1CACO (B.4.3)
− r2 k2C2DO (B.4.4)
and
k1 5.538 1013 exp(− 44,500RT) (B.4.5)
k2 1.55 1026 exp(− 88,000RT) (B.4.6)
The units of reaction rate, ri, are kmol/m3s, and the activation energy is in cal/mol (which
is equivalent to kcal/kmol).
V-501 P-501 A/B H-501 R-501 E-501 V-502 A/B T-501 E-502 E-503 P-502 A/B V-503 T-502 E-504 E-505 P-503 A/B V-504 E-506 P-504 A/B
Recycle Feed Feed Drying Reactor Gum ACO Recyle Recyle Recycle Recycle Drying Drying Drying Oil Drying Oil Drying Recycle Recycle
Mixing Pump Fired Oil Effluent Filter Recycle Tower Tower Tower Tower Oil Oil Tower Tower Oil Cooler Pump
Vessel Heater Reactor Cooler Holding Tower Reboiler Condenser Reflux Reflux Tower Tower Condenser Reflux Tower
Vessel Pump Drum Reboiler Pump Reflux
Drum
5/11/12
Acetylated
Castor Oil
1
11
FIC E-505
12:21 AM
V-501 H-501
cw Acetic
V-502 A/B Acid
3
T-502 FIC LIC
2 V-504
9
Page 85
P-501 A/B 4 E-503

cw P-503A/B
Air Ng
LIC
T-501 FIC LIC
V-503
7 E-504 12
R-501 P-502 A/B hps
Drying
LIC Oil
E-502
6
Dowtherm A
14 lps from H-501
5 10
E-501 Gum
lps
bfw
E-506
13
P-504 A/B
bfw
Figure B.4.1 Unit 500: Drying Oil Process Flow Diagram
85

If you want to simulate this process and 1-octacosene is not a compound in your simula-
tor’s database, you can add gum as a compound to the simulator databank using the fol-
lowing physical properties:
• Molecular weight = 392

• Boiling point = 431.6°C
• For the group contribution method add the following groups:
1 – CH3 group
25 > CH2 groups
1 = CH2 group
1 = CH– group

Stream Number 1 2 3 4
Temperature (°C) 25.0 151.0 151.1 380.0
Pressure (kPa) 110.0 105.0 230.0 195.0
Vapor mole fraction 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Flowrate (kg/h) 1628.7 10,703.1 10,703.1 10,703.1
Flowrate (kmol/h) 6.35 41.75 41.75 41.75
Acetic acid 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1-Tetradecene (drying oil) 0.00 0.064 0.064 0.064
Hexadecanoic acid (ACO) 6.35 41.69 41.69 41.69
Gum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Temperature (°C) 342.8 175.0 175.0 175.0
Pressure (kPa) 183.0 148.0 136.0 136.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 10,703.1 10,703.1 10,703.1 0.02
Flowrate (kmol/h) 48.07 48.07 48.07 4.61 × 10-5
Acetic acid 6.32 6.32 6.32 0.00
Gum 4.61 × 10-5 4.61 × 10-5 0.00000 4.61 × 10-5

Temperature (°C) 108.0 344.8 119.2 252.8
Pressure (kPa) 125.0 90.0 105.0 125.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 1628.7 9074.4 378.6 1250.0
Flowrate (kmol/h) 12.67 35.40 6.29 6.38
Acetic acid 6.32 0.00 6.28 0.03
Gum 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Stream Number 13 14
Temperature (°C) 170.0 170.0
Pressure (kPa) 65.0 110.0
Vapor mole fraction 0.00 0.00
Flowrate (kg/h) 9074.4 9074.4
Flowrate (kmol/h) 35.40 35.40
Acetic acid 0.00 0.00
1-Tetradecene (drying oil) 0.06 0.06
Hexadecanoic acid (ACO) 35.34 35.34
Gum 0.00 0.00

E-501 E-502 E-503 E-504 E-505 E-506
bfw→lps Dowtherm A cw hps cw bfw→lps
2664 kg/h 126,540 kg/h 24,624 kg/h 425 kg/h 5508 kg/h 2088 kg/h

Fired Heater
H-501
Total heat duty required = 13,219 MJ/h =
3672 kW
Design capacity = 4000 kW
Carbon steel tubes
Heat Exchangers
E-501 E-504
A = 26.2 m2 A = 64.8 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel
Q = 6329 MJ/h Q = 719 MJ/h
E-502 E-505
A = 57.5 m2 A = 0.58 m2
Q =5569 MJ/h Q = 230 MJ/h
E-503 E-506
A = 2.95 m2 A = 919 m2
Process stream in shell Process stream in tubes
Q = 1029 MJ/h Q = 4962 MJ/h
Pumps
P-501 A/B P-503 A/B
Carbon steel Stainless steel
NPSHR at design flow = 14 ft of liquid
P-504 A/B
P-502 A/B Stainless steel/electric drive
Centrifugal/electric drive Power = 0.3 kW (actual)
Stainless steel 80% efficient
Power = 1 kW (actual) NPSHR at design flow = 12 ft of liquid
80% efficient
Reactor
R-501
Stainless steel vessel
V = 1.15 m3
5.3 m long, 0.53 m diameter

Towers
T-501 T-502
Stainless steel Stainless steel
56 sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser 35 sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser
Total condenser Total condenser
Feed on tray = 32 Feed on tray = 23
12-in tray spacing, 2.2-in weirs 12-in tray spacing, 2.8-in weirs
Column height = 17 m Column height = 11 m
Diameter = 2.1 m below feed and 0.65 m Diameter = 0.45 m
above feed
Vessels
V-501 V-503
L/D = 3 L/D = 3
V = 2.3 m3 V = 2.3 m3
V-502 V-504
Vertical Horizontal
Stainless steel Carbon steel
L/D = 5 L/D = 3
V = 3 m3 V = 0.3 m3
B.4.4 Reference
1. Smith, J. M., Chemical Engineering Kinetics, 3rd ed. (New York: John Wiley and Sons,
1981), 224–228.
B.5 PRODUCTION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE FROM BENZENE, UNIT 600
Currently, the preferred route to maleic anhydride in the United States is via isobutene in
fluidized-bed reactors. However, an alternative route via benzene may be carried out
using a shell-and-tube reactor, with catalyst in the tubes and a cooling medium being cir-
culated through the shell [1, 2].

A process flow diagram for the reactor section of the maleic anhydride process is shown
in Figure B.5.1. Benzene is vaporized in E-601, mixed with compressed air, and then
heated in a fired heater, H-601, prior to being sent to a packed-bed catalytic reactor,
R-601, where the following reactions take place:
k
C6H6 4.5O2 S C4H2O3 2CO2 2H2O
1
(B.5.1)
benzene maleic anhydride
k2
C6H6 7.5O2 S 6CO2 3H2O (B.5.2)
benzene
C4H2O3 3O2 S 4CO2 H2O

k3
.(B.5.3)
maleic anhydride
k4
C6H6 1.5O2 S C6H4O2 2H2O (B.5.4)
benzene quinone
All the reactions are highly exothermic. For this reason, the ratio of air to benzene
entering the reactor is kept very high. A typical inlet concentration (Stream 6) of approxi-
mately 1.5 vol% of benzene in air is used. Cooling is achieved by circulating molten salt (a
mixture of sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate) cocurrently through the shell of the reactor
and across the tubes containing the catalyst and reactant gases. This molten salt is cooled
in two external exchangers—E-602 and E-607—prior to returning to the reactor.
The reactor effluent, Stream 7—containing small amounts of unreacted benzene,
maleic anhydride, quinone, and combustion products—is cooled in E-603 and then sent
to an absorber column, T-601, which has both a reboiler and condenser. In T-601, the
vapor feed is contacted with recycled heavy organic solvent (dibutyl phthalate), Stream 9.
This solvent absorbs the maleic anhydride, quinone, and small amounts of water. Any
water in the solvent leaving the bottom of the absorber, T-601, reacts with the maleic an-
hydride to form maleic acid, which must be removed and purified from the maleic anhy-
dride. The bottoms product from the absorber is sent to a separation tower, T-602, where
the dibutyl phthalate is recovered as the bottoms product, Stream 14, and recycled back to
the absorber. A small amount of fresh solvent, Stream 10, is added to account for losses.
The overhead product from T-602, Stream 13, is sent to the maleic acid column, T-603,
where 95 mol% maleic acid is removed as the bottoms product.
The overhead stream is taken to the quinone column, T-604, where 99 mol%
quinone is taken as the top product and 99.9 mol% maleic anhydride is removed as the
bottoms product. These last two purification columns are not shown in Figure B.5.1 and
are not included in the current analysis.
Stream summaries, utility summaries, and equipment summaries are presented in
Tables B.5.1–B.5.3.
V-601 C-601 P-601A/B E-601 H-601 P-602 A/B E-602 R-601 P-603A/B E-603 T- 601 E-604 V-602 P-604 A/B E-605
Benzene Inlet Air Benzene Benzene Feed Molten Molten Reactor Dibutyl Reactor MA MA Tower MA MA MA
Feed Compressor Feed Feed Heater Salt Circ. Salt Makeup Effluent Scrubber Condenser Reflux Reflux Reboiler
Drum Pumps Vaporizer Pumps Cooler Pumps Cooler Drum Pumps
T- 602 E-606 V-603 P-605 A/B E-607 P-606 A/B

Dibutyl Phthalate Make-up Dibutyl Dibutyl Dibutyl Dibutyl Dibutyl Dibutyl
Scrubber Tower Reflux Reflux Reboiler Recycle
5/11/12
10 Condenser Drum Pumps Pumps
P-603 A/B
5
12:21 AM
Air
FIC
4
Products of
116 Combustion
C-601 9 E-604 Off-Gas to
Incinerator
Page 91
H-601
~
E-601
cw 12
PIC ~
lps
T- 601
LIC V-602
6
Benzene air ng
3 FIC
1 P-604A/B E-606
R-601 E-605
15 LIC
V-601 FIC
hps T- 602 cw
E-602
2 hps
hps
16 8 FIC LIC To Maleic
V-603
7 Anhydride
P-601 A/B
Purification
11
bfw
~ 13
P-602 A/B E-603 P-605A/B ~
Temperature °C bfw
E-607 LIC
14
P-606 A/B
Figure B.5.1 Unit 600: Maleic Anhydride Process Flow Diagram
91

Temperature (°C) 30 30 30 30 170 460 608 270
Pressure (kPa) 101 101 280 101 250 235 220 215
Total kg/h 3304 3304 3304 80,490 80,490 83,794 83,794 83,794
Total kmol/h 42.3 42.3 42.3 2790.0 2790.0 2832.3 2825.2 2825.2
Maleic anhydride 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 26.3 26.3
Dibutyl phthalate 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nitrogen 0.0 0.0 0.0 2205.0 2205.0 2205.0 2205.0 2205.0
Water 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 91.5 91.5
Oxygen 0.0 0.0 0.0 585.0 585.0 585.0 370.2 370.2
Benzene 42.3 42.3 42.3 0.0 0.0 42.3 2.6 2.6
Quinone 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.7
Carbon dioxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 129.0 129.0
Maleic acid 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Sodium nitrite 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Sodium nitrate 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Stream Number 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Temperature (°C) 330 320 194 84 195 330 419 562
Pressure (kPa) 82 100 82 75 80 82 200 200
Total kg/h 139,191.6 30.6 141,866 81,225 2597 139,269 391,925 391,925
Total kmol/h 500.1 0.1 526.2 2797.9 26.2 500.0 5000.0 5000.0
Maleic anhydride 0.0 0.0 4.8 0.5 24.8 0.0 0.0 0.0
Dibutyl phthalate 500.1 0.1 500.0 0.0 0.0 500.0 0.0 0.0
Nitrogen 0.0 0.0 0.0 2205.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Water 0.0 0.0 0.0 91.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Oxygen 0.0 0.0 0.0 370.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Benzene 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Quinone 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0
Carbon dioxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 129.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Maleic acid 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.005 0.0 0.0
Sodium nitrite 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2065.6 2065.6
Sodium nitrate 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2934.4 2934.4

E-601 E-602 E-603 E-604 E-605 E-606
lps bfw → hps bfw → hps cw hps cw
1750 MJ/h 16,700 MJ/h 31,400 MJ/h 86,900 MJ/h 19,150 MJ/h 3050 MJ/h
841 kg/h 7295 kg/h 13,717 kg/h 2.08 × 106 kg/h 11,280 kg/h 73,000 kg/h

Compressor and Drives
C-601 D-601A/B (not shown on PFD)
Centrifugal/electric drive Electric/explosion proof
Carbon steel W = 3200 kW
Discharge pressure = 250 kPa 98% efficient
Efficiency = 65%
Power (shaft) = 3108 kW
MOC carbon steel
Fired Heater
H-601
Total (process) heat duty required = 26,800 MJ/h
Design capacity = 32,000 kW
Carbon steel tubes
Design pressure = 300 kPa
Heat Exchangers
E-601 E-605
A = 14.6 m2 A = 131 m2
Q = 1750 MJ/h Q = 19,150 MJ/h
Design pressure = 600 kPa Design pressure = 4100 kPa
E-602 E-606
A = 61.6 m2 A = 11.7 m2
Q =16,700 MJ/h Q = 3050 MJ/h
E-603 E-607
A = 1760 m2 A = 192 m2
Process stream in shell Molten salt in tubes
Q = 31,400 MJ/h Q = 55,600 MJ/h
E-604
A = 1088 m2
1-2 exchanger, fixed head, stainless steel
Process stream in tubes
Q = 86,900 MJ/h
(continued)

Pumps
P-601 A/B P-604 A/B
P-602 A/B P-605 A/B
P-603 A/B P-606 A/B
Reciprocating/electric drive Centrifugal/electric drive
Reactor
R-601
Shell-and-tube vertical design
Stainless steel
L = 7.0 m
D = 3.8 m
12,100 1-in diameter, 6.4 m length catalyst-
filled tubes
Towers
T-601 T-602
14 sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser 42 sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser
Partial condenser Total condenser
Feeds on trays 1 and 14 Feed on tray 27
24-in tray spacing, 2.2-in weirs 15-in tray spacing, 1.5-in weirs
Column height = 10 m Column height = 18 m

Vessels
V-601 V-603
L = 3.50 m L = 3.90 m
D = 1.17 m D = 1.30 m
V-602
Horizontal
Stainless steel
L = 13.2 m
D = 4.4 m

The reactions and reaction kinetics [3] given in Equations (B.5.1)–(B.5.4) are given by the
expression
−ri kiCbenzene or −r3 k3Cmaleic anhydride (B.5.5)
where
k1 7.7 106 exp(−25,143RT) (B.5.6)
k2 6.31 107 exp(−29,850RT) (B.5.7)
k3 2.33 104 exp(−21,429RT) (B.5.8)
k4 7.20 105 exp(−27,149RT) (B.5.9)
The units of reaction rate, ri, are kmol/m3(reactor)s, the activation energy is given in
cal/mol (which is equivalent to kcal/kmol), the units of ki are m3(gas)/m3 (reactor)s, and
the units of concentration are kmol/m3(gas).
The catalyst is a mixture of vanadium and molybdenum oxides on an inert support.
Typical inlet reaction temperatures are in the range of 350°C to 400°C. The catalyst is
placed in 25 mm diameter tubes that are 3.2 m long. The catalyst pellet diameter is 5 mm.
The maximum temperature that the catalyst can be exposed to without causing
irreversible damage (sintering) is 650°C. The packed-bed reactor should be costed as a
shell-and-tube exchanger. The heat transfer area should be calculated based on the total
external area of the catalyst-filled tubes required from the simulation. Because of the high
temperatures involved, both the shell and the tube material should be stainless steel. An
overall heat transfer coefficient for the reactor should be set as 100 W/m2°C. (This is the
value specified in the simulation.)

The CHEMCAD simulation used to generate the PFD shown in Figure B.5.1 has several
simplifications that are valid for this system. The removal of trace amounts of noncon-
densables is achieved after the absorber using a component separator, which avoids prob-
lems with column convergence downstream. The formation of maleic acid is simulated by
using a stoichiometric reactor and setting the conversion of water to 1.
Tower T-601, the maleic anhydride scrubber, is simulated using the rigorous tower
simulator. Tower T-602, the dibutyl phthalate tower, is simulated using the Shortcut col-
umn module. Currently, there is no experimental vapor pressure data for the components
in this simulation. It appears that the vapor pressures of the components differ widely,
and no azeotropes are known at this time. For this reason, the ideal vapor pressure
K-value option and the latent heat enthalpy option are used.
In order to simulate the temperature spike in the reactor, the reactor is simulated as
a cocurrent, packed-bed kinetic reactor, with a molten salt stream as the utility. This con-
figuration provides a greater temperature differential at the front end of the reactor,
where the reaction rate is highest. Countercurrent flow could be investigated as an alter-
native. The kinetics given above are used in the simulation. Dimensions of the reactor
tubes are given in Section B.5.2.
B.5.4 References
1. Felthouse, T. R., J. C. Burnett, B. Horrell, M. J. Mummey, and Y-J Kuo, “Maleic Anhy-
dride, Maleic Acid, and Fumaric Acid,” Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technol-
ogy, online version (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2001).
2. “Maleic Acid and Anhydride,” Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol.
29, ed. J. J. McKetta (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984), 35–55.
3. Wohlfahrt, Emig G., “Compare Maleic Anhydride Routes,” Hydrocarbon Processing,
June 1980, 83–90.
B.6 ETHYLENE OXIDE PRODUCTION, UNIT 700
Ethylene oxide is a chemical used to make ethylene glycol (the primary ingredient in an-
tifreeze). It is also used to make polyethylene oxide, and both the low-molecular-weight
and high-molecular-weight polymers have many applications including as detergent addi-
tives. Because ethylene oxide is so reactive, it has many other uses as a reactant. However,
because of its reactivity, danger of explosion, and toxicity, it is rarely shipped outside the
manufacturing facility but instead is often pumped directly to a nearby consumer.

The process flow diagram is shown in Figure B.6.1. Ethylene feed (via pipeline from a
neighboring plant) is mixed with recycled ethylene and mixed with compressed and dried
air (drying step not shown), heated, and then fed to the first reactor. The reaction is
exothermic, and medium-pressure steam is made in the reactor shell. Conversion in the re-
actor is kept low to enhance selectivity for the desired product. The reactor effluent is
cooled, compressed, and sent to a scrubber, where ethylene oxide is absorbed by water.
The vapor from the scrubber is heated, throttled, and sent to a second reactor, followed by
a second series of cooling, compression, and scrubbing. A fraction of the unreacted vapor
C-701 E-701 C-703 R-701 E-704 C-704 T-701 E-705 R-702 E-706 C-705 T-702 E-707 T-703 E-708
Air Inter- Air EO Reactor Blower EO Reactor EO Reactor Blower EO Distillation EO Condenser
Compressor cooler Compressor Reactor Cooler Absorber Preheater Reactor Cooler Absorber Precooler Column
C-702 E-702 E-703 E-709 V-701 P-701 A/B
Air Inter- Reactor Reboiler Reflux Reflux
Compressor cooler Preheater Drum Pump
5/11/12
E-704 E-706
C-704 C-705 27
20 21
12 13
Fuel
22 Gas
12:21 AM
cw cw
24 26
23
15
Process
mps 14 mps Light
Water
Page 97
Gases
34
16
T-702
R-701 R-702
E-705
E-709
hps cw
19 T-703
T-701
18
25 E-707 FIC LIC
V-701
bfw bfw
17 29 30 31
28
P-701A/B
32
cw
LIC Ethylene
2 8 9 Oxide
11
Ethylene
33
E-701 E-702 E-703 hps

E-708 Waste-
water
1 3 4 5 6 7 10
Air
C-701 cw C-702 cw C-703 hps
Figure B.6.1 Unit 700: Ethylene Oxide Process Flow Diagram
97

Temperature (°C) 25.0 25.0 159.2 45.0
Pressure (bar) 1.0 50.0 3.0 2.7
Flowrate (kg/h) 500,000 20,000 500,000 500,000
Flowrate (kmol/h) 17,381.45 712.91 17,381.45 17,381.45
Ethylene 0.0 712.91 0.0 0.0
Ethylene oxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Carbon dioxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Oxygen 3281.35 0.0 3281.35 3281.35
Nitrogen 14,100.09 0.0 14,100.09 14,100.09
Water 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Temperature (°C) 206.1 45.0 195.2 –6.3
Pressure (bar) 9.0 8.7 27.0 27.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 500,000 500,000 500,000 20,000
Flowrate (kmol/h) 17,381.45 17,381.45 17,381.45 712.91
Ethylene 0.0 0.0 0.0 712.91
Ethylene oxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Carbon dioxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Oxygen 3281.35 3281.35 3281.35 0.0
Nitrogen 14,100.09 14,100.09 14,100.09 0.0
Water 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Temperature (°C) 26.3 106.7 240.0 240.0
Pressure (bar) 27.0 26.8 26.5 25.8
Flowrate (kg/h) 524,042 1,023,980 1,023,980 1,023,979
Flowrate (kmol/h) 18,260.29 35,639.59 35,639.59 35,539.42
Ethylene 1047.95 1047.91 1047.91 838.67
Ethylene oxide 6.48 6.47 6.47 206.79
Carbon dioxide 31.71 31.71 31.71 49.56
Oxygen 3050.14 6331.12 6331.12 6204.19
Nitrogen 14,093.02 28,191.39 28,191.39 28,191.39
Water 30.99 30.98 30.98 48.82

Temperature (°C) 45.0 63.7 25.0 30.3
Pressure (bar) 25.5 30.2 30.0 30.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 1,023,980 1,023,980 360,300 1,015,669
Flowrate (kmol/h) 35,539 35,539 20,000 35,358
Ethylene 838.67 838.67 0.0 837.96
Ethylene oxide 206.79 206.79 0.0 15.45
Carbon dioxide 49.56 49.56 0.0 49.56
Oxygen 6204.19 6204.19 0.0 6202.74
Nitrogen 28,191.39 28,191.39 0.0 28,188.72
Water 48.82 48.82 20,000 63.24
Temperature (°C) 51.9 240.0 239.9 240.0
Pressure (bar) 30.0 29.7 26.5 25.8
Flowrate (kg/h) 368,611 1,015,669 1,015,669 1,015,669
Flowrate (kmol/h) 20,181.77 35,357.65 35357.66 35,277.47
Ethylene 0.70 837.96 837.96 670.64
Ethylene oxide 191.34 15.45 15.45 175.83
Carbon dioxide 0.01 49.55 49.55 63.44
Oxygen 1.45 6202.74 6202.74 6101.72
Nitrogen 2.68 28,188.72 28,188.72 28,188.72
Water 19,985.58 63.24 63.24 77.13
(continued)

Temperature (°C) 45.0 63.8 25.0 30.1
Pressure (bar) 25.5 30.2 30.0 30.0
Total kg/h 1,015,669 1,015,669 60,300 1,008,084
Total kmol/h 35,277.47 35,277.47 20,000 35094.76
Ethylene 670.64 670.64 0.0 670.08
Ethylene oxide 175.83 175.83 0.0 12.96
Carbon dioxide 63.44 63.44 0.0 63.43
Oxygen 6101.72 6101.72 0.0 6100.28
Nitrogen 28,188.72 28,188.72 0.0 28,186.04
Water 77.13 77.13 20,000 61.96
Temperature (°C) 52.3 30.1 30.1 29.5
Pressure (bar) 30.0 30.0 30.0 27.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 367,885 504,042 504,042 504,042
Flowrate (kmol/h) 20,182.72 17,547.38 17,547.38 17,547.38
Ethylene 0.57 335.04 335.04 335.04
Ethylene oxide 162.88 6.48 6.48 6.48
Carbon dioxide 0.01 31.71 31.71 31.71
Oxygen 1.43 3050.14 3050.14 3050.14
Nitrogen 2.68 14,093.02 14,093.02 14,093.02
Water 20,015.15 30.99 30.99 30.99

Temperature (°C) 52.1 45.0 45.0 86.4
Pressure (bar) 30.0 29.7 10.0 10.0
Flowrate (kg/h) 736,497 736,497 736,218 15,514
Flowrate (kmol/h) 40,364.48 40,364.48 40,354.95 352.39
Ethylene 1.27 1.27 1.27 0.0
Ethylene oxide 354.22 354.22 354.22 352.04
Carbon dioxide 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.0
Oxygen 2.89 2.89 2.89 0.0
Nitrogen 5.35 5.35 5.35 0.0
Water 40,000.74 40,000.74 40,000.74 0.35
Stream Number 33 34
Temperature (°C) 182.3 86.4
Pressure (bar) 10.5 10.0
Vapor mole fraction 0.00 1.00
Flowrate (kg/h) 720,703 278.78
Flowrate (kmol/h) 40,002.57 9.53
Ethylene 0.0 1.27
Ethylene oxide 2.18 0.0
Carbon dioxide 0.0 0.02
Oxygen 0.0 2.88
Nitrogen 0.0 5.35
Water 40,000.39 0.0
E-701 E-702 E-703 E-704

cw cw hps cw
1,397,870 kg/h 1,988,578 kg/h 87,162 kg/h 5,009,727 kg/h
E-705 E-706 E-707 E-708

hps cw cw hps
135,789 kg/h 4,950,860 kg/h 513,697 kg/h 258,975 kg/h
E-709 R-701 R-702

cw bfw→mps bfw→mps
29,609 kg/h 13,673 kg/h 10,813 kg/h

Compressors*
C-701 C-704
Centrifugal Centrifugal
Power = 19 MW Power = 5.5 MW
80% adiabatic efficiency 80% adiabatic efficiency
C-702 C-705
Power = 23 MW Power = 5.5 MW
80% adiabatic efficiency 80% adiabatic efficiency
C-703
Carbon steel
Centrifugal
Power = 21.5 MW
80% adiabatic efficiency
*Note that all compressors have electric-explosion-proof drives with a backup. These units are
designated D-701 A/B through D-705 A/B but are not shown on the PFD.

Heat Exchangers
E-701 E-706
A = 5553 m2 A = 13,945 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Process stream in tubes Process stream in tubes
Q = 58,487 MJ/h Q = 207,144 MJ/h
E-702 E-707
A = 6255 m2 A = 1478 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Q = 83,202 MJ/h Q = 21,493 MJ/h
E-703 E-708
A = 12,062 m2 A = 566 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel
Process stream in tubes Process stream condenses in shell
Q = 147,566 MJ/h Q = 43,844 MJ/h
E-704 E-709
A = 14,110 m2 A = 154 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel 1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel
Process stream in tubes Process stream boils in shell
Q = 209,607 MJ/h Q = 14,212 MJ/h
E-705
A = 14,052 m2
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel
Q = 229,890 MJ/h
Pump
P-701 A/B
Stainless steel
Power = 4 kW (actual)
75% efficient
Reactors
R-701 R-702
Carbon steel, shell-and-tube packed bed Carbon steel, shell-and-tube packed bed
Spherical catalyst pellet, 9 mm diameter Spherical catalyst pellet, 9 mm diameter
Void fraction = 0.4 Void fraction = 0.4
V = 202 m3 V = 202 m3
10 m tall, 7.38 cm diameter tubes 10 m tall, 9.33 cm diameter tubes
4722 tubes 2954 tubes
100% filled with active catalyst 100% filled with active catalyst
Q = 33,101 MJ/h Q = 26,179 MJ/h
mps made in shell mps made in shell
(continued)

Towers
T-701 T-703
20 SS sieve trays 70 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and condenser
Feeds on trays 1 and 20 Total condenser (E-709)
24-in tray spacing, 3-in weirs Feed on tray 36
Column height = 12.2 m Reflux ratio = 0.89
Diameter = 5.6 m 12-in tray spacing, 3-in weirs
T-702 Column height = 43 m
Carbon steel Diameter = 8.0 m
20 SS sieve trays
25% efficient trays
Feeds on trays 1 and 20
24-in tray spacing, 3-in weirs
Column height = 12.2 m
Diameter = 5.6 m
Vessel
V-701
Stainless steel
Horizontal
L/D = 3.0
V = 12.7 m3
stream is purged, with the remainder recycled to recover unreacted ethylene. The com-
bined aqueous product streams are mixed, cooled, throttled, and distilled to produce the
desired product. The required purity specification is 99.5 wt% ethylene oxide.

The pertinent reactions (adapted from Stoukides and Pavlou [3]) are as follows:
C2H4 0.5 O2 S C2H4O (B.6.1)
C2H4 3 O2 S 2CO2 2H2O (B.6.2)
C2H4O 2.5 O2 S 2CO2 2H2O (B.6.3)
The kinetic expressions are, respectively,
1.96 exp(−2400RT)pethylene
r1 (B.6.4)
1 0.00098 exp(11,200RT)pethylene
0.0936 exp(6400RT)pethylene
r2 (B.6.5)
2
0.42768 exp(6200RT)pethylene
r3 oxide
(B.6.6)
2
oxide
The units for the reaction rates are moles/m3 s. The pressure unit is bar. The activation
energy numerator is in cal/mol. The catalyst used for this reaction is silver on an inert
support. The support consists of 7.5 mm diameter spheres that have a bulk density of
1250 kg/m3 and a void fraction of 0.4.

The following thermodynamics packages are strongly recommended for simulation of
this process.
• K-values: Use a global model of PSRK but use UNIFAC as a local model for T-701
and T-702.
• Enthalpy: Use SRK.
B.6.4 References
1. Dever, J. P., K. F. George, W. C. Hoffman, and H. Soo, “Ethylene Oxide,” Kirk-Oth-
mer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, online version (New York: John Wiley and
Sons, 2004).
2. “Ethylene Oxide,” Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 20, ed. J. J.
McKetta (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984), 274 –318.
3. Stoukides, M., and S. Pavlou, “Ethylene Oxidation on Silver Catalysts: Effect of Eth-
ylene Oxide and of External Transfer Limitations,” Chem. Eng. Commun. 44 (1986):
53–74.
B.7 FORMALIN PRODUCTION, UNIT 800
Formalin is a 37 wt% solution of formaldehyde in water. Formaldehyde and urea are

used to make urea-formaldehyde resins that subsequently are used as adhesives and
binders for particle board and plywood.

Unit 800 produces formalin (37 wt% formaldehyde in water) from methanol using the sil-
ver catalyst process. Figure B.7.1 illustrates the process.
Air is compressed and preheated, fresh and recycled methanol is pumped and pre-
heated, and these two streams are mixed to provide reactor feed. The feed mixture is
about 39 mol% methanol in air, which is greater than the upper flammability limit for
methanol. (For methanol, UFL = 36 mol%; LFL = 6 mol%.) In the reactor, the following
two reactions occur:
1
CH3OH O2 S HCHO H2O ΔHrxn 37.3 kcalmole (B.7.1)
2
methanol formaldehyde
CH3OH S HCHO H2 ΔHrxn 20.3 kcalmole (B.7.2)

methanol formaldehyde
The reactor is a unique configuration, in which the silver catalyst is in the form of wire
gauze, suspended above a heat exchanger tube bank. Because the net reaction is very
106
C-801 P-801 A/B E-801 E-802 R-801 T-801 T-802 E-803 E-804 E-805 V-801 P-802 A/B P-803 A/B E-806
Feed Air Methanol Methanol Air Formaldehyde Formaldehyde Formaldehyde Reactor Tower Tower Tower Tower Product Product
Compressor Feed Pump Preheater Preheater Reactor Absorber Tower Effluent Reboiler Condenser Reflux Reflux Pump Cooler
Cooler Drum Pump
5/11/12
18
Deionized
12
Water
11 Off-Gas
12:22 AM
E-801
4
2 3 T-801 14
Page 106
Methanol mps 6 mps

P-801 A/B to Steam
R-801 Header
E-802
E-805
TIC
1 5 7 8 cw
10
Air LIC FIC
C-801 hps V-801 LIC
T-802
cw 13
9 P-802 A/B
bfw
E-803
LIC
E-806
16 17
E-804 15
mps Formalin
cw
P-803 A/B to Storage
Tank
Figure B.7.1 Unit 800: Formalin Process Flow Diagram

exothermic, the heat generated in the adiabatic reactor section must be removed quickly,
hence the close proximity of the heat-exchanger tubes. The heat exchanger resembles a pool
boiler, with a pool of water on the shell side. If the temperature of the effluent is too high,
the set point on the steam pressure line is lowered to increase the vaporization of boiler feed
water (bfw). In general, the liquid-level controller on the bfw is adjusted to keep the tube
bundle fully immersed. The reactor effluent enters an absorber in which most of the
methanol and formaldehyde are absorbed into water, with most of the remaining light
gases purged into the off-gas stream. The methanol, formaldehyde, and water enter a distil-
lation column, in which the methanol overhead is recycled; the bottoms product is a
formaldehyde/water mixture that contains ≤1 wt% methanol as an inhibitor. This mixture
is cooled and sent to a storage tank, which is sized at four days’ capacity. This storage tank
is essential, because some of the downstream processes are batch. The composition in the
storage tank exceeds 37 wt% formaldehyde, so the appropriate amount of water is added
when the downstream process draws from the storage tank. This is not shown in the PFD
(Figure B.7.1).
Storage of formaldehyde/water mixtures is tricky. At high temperatures, undesir-
able polymerization of formaldehyde is inhibited, but formic acid formation is favored.
At low temperatures, acid formation is inhibited, but polymerization is favored. There are
stabilizers that inhibit polymerization, but they are incompatible with resin formation.
Methanol, at concentrations between 5 wt% and 15 wt%, can also inhibit polymerizaton,
but no separation equipment for methanol currently exists on site, and methanol greater
than 1 wt% also causes defective resin production. With ≤1 wt% methanol, the storage
tank contents must be maintained between 35°C and 45°C.

Due to the very high temperature and large surface area of the wire gauze, the reaction
may be considered to be instantaneous.

Solutions of formaldehyde and water are very nonideal. Individually, the volatilities are,
from most volatile to least volatile, formaldehyde, methanol, and water. However,
formaldehyde associates with water so that when this three-component mixture is dis-
tilled, methanol is the light key and water is the heavy key. The formaldehyde will “fol-
low” the water. The ESDK K-value package in CHEMCAD simulates this appropriately
and was used for the simulation presented here. Latent heat should be used for enthalpy
calculations. The expert system will recommend these choices. Alternatively, the data
provided in Table B.7.4 can be used directly or to fit an appropriate nonideal VLE model.

Temperature (°C) 25.0 30.0 40.7 40.8 183.0 150.0
Pressure (kPa) 101.3 120.0 101.3 300.0 300.0 265.0
Vapor fraction 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 1.0 1.0
Total kg/h 4210.54 2464.8 3120.3 3120.3 4210.5 3120.3
Total kmol/h 145.94 76.92 99.92 99.92 145.94 99.92
Methanol 0.0 76.92 94.11 94.11 0.0 94.12
Oxygen 30.66 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.66 0.0
Formaldehyde 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Water 0.0 0.0 5.81 5.81 0.0 5.81
Hydrogen 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nitrogen 115.28 0.0 0.0 0.0 115.28 0.0
Temperature (°C) 200.0 171.9 200.0 100.0 30.0 84.6
Pressure (kPa) 265.0 255.0 185.0 150.0 150.0 140.0
Vapor fraction 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0
Total kmol/h 4210.5 7330.8 7330.8 7330.8 2576.2 5354.2
Total kg/h 145.94 245.86 278.03 278.03 143.00 224.16
Methanol 0.0 94.12 31.45 31.45 0.0 13.35
Oxygen 30.66 30.66 0.15 0.15 0.0 0.15
Formaldehyde 0.0 0.0 62.67 62.67 0.0 0.04
Water 0.0 5.81 66.82 66.82 143.00 93.68
Hydrogen 0.0 0.0 1.66 1.66 0.0 1.66
Nitrogen 115.28 115.28 115.28 115.28 0.0 115.28

Stream Number 13 14 15 16 17 18
Temperature (°C) 89.9 75.5 106.6 106.7 35.0 73.4
Pressure (kPa) 150.0 130.00 150.00 350.00 315.00 120.00
Total kg/h 4552.8 655.6 3897.1 3897.1 3897.1 655.6
Total kmol/h 196.87 23.00 173.86 173.86 173.86 23.00
Methanol 18.10 17.19 0.90 0.90 0.90 17.19
Oxygen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Formaldehyde 62.63 0.00 62.63 62.63 62.63 0.00
Water 116.14 5.81 110.33 110.33 110.33 5.81
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Nitrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

E-801 E-802 E-803 E-804
mps hps cw mps
2063 kg/h 45.43 kg/h 23,500 kg/h 18,949 kg/h
E-805 E-806 R-801

cw cw bfw → mps
775,717 kg/h 27,957 kg/h 3723 kg/h
Compressor
C-801 D-801 A/B (not shown on PFD)
Carbon steel Electric/explosion proof
Centrifugal W = 195 kW
Power = 183 kW (shaft) 95% efficient
70% efficient
Heat Exchangers E-804

E-801 A = 37.3 m2
A = 405 m2 1-2 exchanger, kettle reboiler, stainless steel
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel Process stream in shell
Process stream in shell Q = 37,755 MJ/h
Q = 4111 MJ/h Maximum pressure rating of 250 kPa
Maximum pressure rating of 350 kPa E-805
E-802 A = 269 m2
A = 4.62 m2 1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel Process stream in shell
Process stream in tubes Q = 32,456 MJ/h
Q = 76.75 MJ/h Maximum pressure rating of 250 kPa
Maximum pressure rating of 350 kPa E-806
E-803 A = 41 m2
A = 28.16 m2 1-2 exchanger, floating head, stainless steel
1-2 exchanger, floating head, carbon steel Process stream in tubes
Process stream in shell Q = 1169.7 MJ/h
Q = 983.23 MJ/h Maximum pressure rating of 400 kPa
Reactors
R-801, Heat-Exchanger Portion R-801, Reactor Portion
A = 140.44 m2 Thin layers of silver wire gauze suspended
Counterflow exchanger, floating head, carbon above heat exchanger tube bank
steel
Q = 8928 MJ/h
Pumps
P-801 A/B P-803 A/B
Power = 0.3 kW Power = 0.5 kW
P-802 A/B
Carbon steel
Power = 1.7 kW
80% efficient

Towers
T-801 T-802
10 m of packing 31 SS sieve trays plus reboiler and partial
2-in ceramic Berl Saddles condenser
20 theoretical stages 70% efficient trays
1.00 kPa/m pressure drop Feed on tray 18
Diameter = 0.86 m Reflux ratio = 37.34
Packing factor = 45 0.6096 m tray spacing, 0.091 m weirs
Maximum pressure rating of 300 kPa Column height = 19 m
Diameter = 2.5 m
Vessel
V-801
Horizontal
Stainless steel
L/D = 4.0
Volume = 4.2 m3
When simulating an entire process, it is recommended to first use the Shortcut dis-
tillation column within the process for the methanol-water/formaldehyde distillation. A
rigorous column solver should then be used as a separate item to simulate the column
based on the results obtained from the Shortcut column. However, due to the nonideality
of the thermodynamics, the actual column simulation using the rigorous column will
probably require many more stages than predicted by the shortcut simulation, possibly
twice the number. Once the parameters for the rigorous column have been established,
the Shortcut column can be replaced by the rigorous column and the simulation rerun to
get a converged simulation.
Table B.7.4 K-values for Formaldehyde/Water/Methanol System [3]

P(psia) =14.696 Chemical Component
T (°C) Formaldehyde Water Methanol
0.1 0.123 1.000 0.273
67.1 0.266 0.491 1.094
72.1 0.336 0.394 1.435
74.8 0.374 0.453 1.598
84.6 0.546 0.607 2.559
97.6 0.693 1.105 2.589
99.9 0.730 1.198 2.595
150.1 1.220 2.460 3.004
B.7.4 References
1. Gerberich, H. R., and G. C. Seaman, “Formaldehyde,” Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of
Chemical Technology, online version (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2004).
2. “Formaldehyde,” Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 23, ed.
J. J. McKetta (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984), 350–371.
3. Gmehling, J., U. Onken, and W. Arlt, Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data Collection, Chem-
istry Data Series (Aqueous-Organic Systems, Supplement 1), Vol. 1, Part 1a,
DECHEMA, 1981, 474–475.
B.8 BATCH PRODUCTION OF L-PHENYLALANINE AND L-ASPARTIC ACID,

UNIT 900
Phenlyalanine and L-aspartic acid are amino acids. When they bond together, the corre-
sponding di-peptide methyl ester is aspartame, known by the brand name NutraSweet or
Equal. Production of both amino acids can be accomplished via fermentation of geneti-
cally altered bacteria. Production rates of 1000 and 1250 tonnes/y of L-aspartic acid and
L-phenylalanine are desired.

To accomplish a fermentation process, bacteria must grow in the presence of appropriate
nutrients that facilitate the production of the desired product. In a processing context, the
fermentation reactor must first be primed with the bacteria and the nutrients. The nutri-
ent feed includes the reactant that the bacteria metabolize to produce the desired amino
acid. Air is also sparged into the fermenter as a source of oxygen. All of these feeds are
passed through sterilization filters prior to entering the reactor. The bacteria are then al-
lowed to multiply, and the desired product, an amino acid in this case, is produced. In
this process, both products are extracellular. After the desired production level of the
amino acid is reached, the fermentation broth pH is lowered by addition of sulfuric acid,
the bacteria are removed from the fermentation broth by filtration, and the product
stream is sent to a holding tank. The addition of acid titrates the amino acid, making it
positively charged. The addition of acid is done only for phenylalanine, because
L-aspartic acid bypasses the ion exchange column and is crystallized directly via precipi-
tation from solution.
In this process, both amino acids are produced in the same facility. Because fermen-
tation is involved and production levels are low compared with typical commodity chem-
icals, batch processes are involved. In batch processes, the key variable is the batch time,
or the length of time that the unit is allowed to run. For example, in a batch reactor, the
batch time is analogous to the space time in a continuous reactor.
The separation sequence is a continuous process, which is accomplished by a contin-
uous feed from the holding tank. This is not uncommon in batch facilities, because many
separation processes are more easily accomplished in the continuous mode. The separa-
tion sequence for the two amino acids differs slightly. Phenylalanine is isolated using ion
exchange followed by crystallization; in contrast, L-aspartic acid is crystallized directly
from the filtered fermentation broth. For phenylalanine, it is adsorbed on the ion
exchange resin and subsequently eluted using a basic solution. The addition of base
neutralizes the positive charge to promote desorption from the ion exchange resin. For
both amino acids, filtration follows crystallization. The product is then sent to storage.
The process is shown in Figure B.8.1.
The use of batch processing requires batch scheduling of the type discussed in Chap-
ter 3, which allows use of the same equipment to manufacture both amino acids in the same
facility. In this description, only the PFD, reactor calculations, and general descriptions of
the separation units are presented. The design of individual equipment, the utility con-
sumption, and the production schedule for the plant are left as exercises for the student. A
description of a process to produce four amino acids (including the two amino acids in this
process) in the same facility is available at http://www.che.cemr.wvu.edu/publications/
projects/large_proj/batch-production_of_amino_acids.pdf. This process description in-
cludes possible batch schedules for both the reactors and the separation section.

L-Aspartic Acid. The reaction of fumaric acid to form L-aspartic acid is an enzy-
matic conversion carried out using the aspartase activity of bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli)
cells according to the following reaction:
aspartase
C4H4O4 NH3 S C4H7NO4 (B.8.1)
fumaric acid L-aspartic acid
The bacteria cells are suspended in a matrix polyacrylamide gel, and the reacting species
must diffuse in and out of the matrix. The diffusivities of the substrate (fumaric acid) and
product (L-aspartic acid) in the gel decrease as their concentrations increase due to the
tendency of the gel to shrink at low pH.
The kinetic model for this reaction follows a Michaelis-Menten form for a reversible
reaction, which rearranges to
1 1 Ka,M
(B.8.2)

Va Va,max CAA
Va,max CFA −
KCNH 4
where CFA is the concentration of fumaric acid (kmol/m3).

CAA is the concentration of L-aspartic acid (kmol/m3).
CNH is the concentration of ammonium ions (kmol/m3).
+
4
K is a reaction equilibrium constant (m3/kmol).

Va is the apparent rate of production of L-aspartic acid (kmol/h/kg-gel).
Va,max is the apparent maximum rate of production of L-aspartic acid
(kmol/h/kg-gel).
Ka,M is the apparent Michaelis constant for the reaction (kmol/m3).
Reaction rate parameters have been modified from reference [1] and are used for the cur-
rent process using a 1.0 M substrate solution at a reaction temperature of 32°C.
Ka,M 0.68C1.04
FA,0
0.77
CFA,0
Va,max
150
K 88.7 m kmol at 32°C
3
CNH4 2.04CFA
V-901 T-901 CR-901 E-901 E-902
114
F-901-3 R-901 F-904 P-901 F-905
Sterilization Fermenter Bacteria Slurry Ion Exchange Product Reflux Waste- Crystallizer Amino Acid
Storage Crystallizer Heater water
Filters Filter Column Reflux Pump Crystal Filter

Condenser
Inoculation F-901
1 2 F-904 Vent
5/11/12
11 12
1
Nutrient Feed F-902
3 4
TIC
12:22 AM
cw R-901
lps
pHIC
13
1
Page 114
F-904
F-903 Bacteria
6
1
14
1
Air
5
15
1
Ammonia
7 8 E-902 Waste-
V-901 water
21 22
1
Sulfuric Acid
9 10 16
1 cw
CR-901
20
1
Elutant E-901
Amino Acid
F-905 Crystals
17 T-901 23
26 27
24 lps
25
28
1
P-901 Nutrient
19 Solution
18
1
Figure B.8.1 Unit 900: Amino Acid Process Flow Diagram

It should be noted that the relationship CNH4 2.04CFA can be achieved only in a batch re-
actor by measuring the concentration of fumaric acid and adjusting the ammonia concen-
tration with time. This approach is assumed here; however, if a fixed amount of ammonia
is initially added to the reactor, then the relationship between CNH4 and CFA must be
found from the material balance and substituted in Equation (B.8.2).
Substituting the above values into Equation (B.8.2) and using the conversion, X, of
fumaric acid (CFA = CFA,0(1 – X) and CAA = CFA,0X), we get
C0.77 (1 − 2X)

VCFA,0 dX
Va FA,0 (B.8.3)
W dt 150 1 − (2 123C1.04
FA,0)X 123CFA,0
1.04
where V is the volume of the reacting mass in the reactor (m3).

W is the weight of the gel (kg) = V(1-e)rbead.
e is the void fraction of beads in the reacting mass.
rbead is the bead density (kg/m3).
Substituting into Equation (B.8.3), we have
(1 − e)rbead (1 − 2X)

dX
(B.8.4)
dt CFA,0150 (1 123CFA,0) − (2 123C1.04
0.23 1.04
FA,0)X
For the specified initial concentration of fumaric acid of 1.0M = 1 kmol/m3 and with
rbead ~ 1000 kg/m3 and assuming a voidage of 0.5, Equation (B.8.4) simplifies to
(1 − 2X)

dX
3.33 (B.8.5)
dt 124 − 125X
Separating variables and integrating Equation (B.8.5) yield the conversion as a function of
batch reaction time. This relationship is shown in Figure B.8.2.
Conversion of Fumaric Acid, X
Batch Reaction Time, h
Figure B.8.2 Conversion of Fumaric Acid to L-Aspartic Acid as a

Function of Reaction Time
Preliminary Sizing of Reactor R-901. For a conversion of 45% (90% of equilib-

rium), a reaction time of approximately 30 h is required. Assuming that an additional 5 h
is required for filling, cleaning, and heating, the total time for the reaction step is 35 h.
Using a reactor size of 37.9 m3 (10,000 gal) and assuming a 90% fill volume and a
voidage of 0.5, the amount of fumaric acid fed to the batch is (37.9)(0.9)(0.5) = 17.04 m3, or
17.04 kmol (17.04 : 116 = 1977 kg). The amount of L-aspartic acid produced = (17.04)(0.45)
= 7.67 kmol = (7.67)(133) = 1020 kg.
Production rate of L-aspartic acid from a 10,000 gallon reactor is 1020 kg/batch
using a batch time of 35 h.
L-Phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is produced via fermentation using a mutant Bre-

vibacterium lactofermentum 2256 (ATCC No. 13869) known as No. 123 [2]. The rate equations
for biomass (bacteria, X), substrate (mainly glucose, S), and product (L-phenylalanine, P)
are described by Monod kinetics.
dX mS
X (B.8.6)
dt Ks S
dS 1 mmS
= - X (B.8.7)
dt YXS Ks + S
dP YPS mmS
= X (B.8.8)
dt YXS Ks + S
where X is the concentration of bacteria (kg/m3).

S is the concentration of substrate (glucose) (kg/m3).
P is the concentration of product (L-phenylalanine) (kg/m3).
mm is the maximum specific growth rate (h–1).
Ks is the Monod constant (kg/m3).
YXS is biomass yield.
YPS is product yield.
According to Tsuchida et al. [2], for a culture medium containing 13% glucose,
1% ammonium sulfate, and 1.2% fumaric acid (plus other trace nutrients, etc.) the yield
of L-phenylalanine was 21.7 mg/ml after 72 h of cultivation at a temperature of 31.5°C.
This represents a yield of approximately 16.7% from glucose by weight. Other amino
acids are also produced in small quantities (<5 kg/m3), with lysine making up approxi-
mately 50%.
To obtain a kinetic model of the growth of bacteria and subsequent production of
L-phenylalanine and depletion of glucose, the parameters in Equations (B.8.6)–(B.8.8)
were back-calculated to give best-fit profiles of X, S, and P compared to published values
([2], Figure 4). The parameter values are shown in Table B.8.1, and the profiles are plotted
in Figure B.8.3.
Preliminary Sizing of Reactor R-901. For a reaction time of approximately 60 h,

the final concentration of L-phenylalanine is 21.0 kg/m3. Assuming an additional 5 h for
filling, cleaning, and heating gives a total reactor step time of 65 h.
Table B.8.1 Best-Fit Parameters for Monod Kinetics

Using Brevibacterium lactofermentum
2256 (ATCC No. 13869) Strain No. 123
Parameter Value
mm 0.25 h–1
Ks 105.4 kg/m3
YXS 0.07
YPS 0.167
X0 0.0114 kg/m3
S0 130.0 kg/m3
P0 0.0 kg/m3
Using a 37.9 m3 (10,000 gal) reactor for the fermentation and assuming that a 90% fill
volume is used, the volume of reactants is (37.9)(0.9) = 34.11 m3.
The amount of L-phenylalanine produced in a 60 h batch reaction is (34.11)(21.0) =
716 kg.
Production rate of L-aspartic acid from a 10,000 gallon reactor is 716 kg/
batch, with a reactor step time of 65 h.
Preliminary Information on Other Equipment. As mentioned in the process de-

scription, the production of both L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine follows similar
paths. A brief discussion of the unit operations involved with the separation and purifica-
tion of the final products is in order, because these operations are not typical of the unit
operations covered in this text. Size information is not included for the equipment de-
scribed next; however, estimates of processing times, where applicable, are given.
Filtration of Bacteria. After reaction, the bacteria must be filtered from the mother
liquor prior to storage. The bacteria tend to give rise to slimy filter cakes, and the filtration
of such material is best accomplished using a rotary drum filter utilizing a precoat. Typical
P
X
Reaction Time, h
Figure B.8.3 Concentration Profiles as a Function of Reaction Time

precoating materials are dolomite, perlite, and cellulose, and these are applied to the drum
in a two-stage process prior to filtration. The precoating process involves depositing a
layer of the precoat material (5–15 cm thick) on the drum prior to the filtration operation.
Once the precoat has been applied, the filtration starts, and the biomass forms a thin layer
on the precoat. This layer of biomass is continuously removed, along with a thin layer of
the precoat material, using a sharp-edged “Doctor” blade. Additional information is given
at http://www.solidliquid-separation.com [3]. Without doing detailed calculations, it is
difficult to determine the time required for the precoat stage and filtration stages. For this
project you may assume that these steps take 25 h and 5 h, respectively.
Intermediate Storage. The fermentation broth (free of solids, or biomass) leaving

the filters is stored in an intermediate storage tank prior to being sent to the ion exchange
column (for L-phenylalanine) and on to the crystallizer. The use of an intermediate stor-
age vessel allows the remainder of the process to operate as a continuous process.
Ion Exchange Column. The ion exchange columns operate as semibatch processes.
Hydrochloric acid is added to the L-phenylalanine-containing solution and is passed
through freshly regenerated ion exchange resin such as Dow’s DOWEX MARATHON C
[4]. The resin captures the positively charged amino acid. Once the bed is full, it is back-
washed with a basic solution of ammonium or sodium hydroxide, which breaks the resin
amino acid bond. The resin is subsequently washed free of the hydroxide, and the cycle
starts again.
Continuous Crystallizer and Filtration. Draft tube baffle crystallizers can be used
for the crystallization of L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. These crystallizers offer the
advantages of high circulation rates for efficient mixing. Fines removal is facilitated
through the use of baffles, and a certain amount of product classification (crystal size con-
trol) is obtained through the elutriating leg. Batch crystallizers could also be used, but
product quality and efficiency suffer. The saturated liquid from the crystallizer, contain-
ing amino acid crystals, is sent to a filter (such as a rotary drum filter), where the crystals
are removed and sent for washing, drying, and packaging. The saturated liquid is re-
turned to the crystallizer for further product recovery, thereby increasing the efficiency of
the operation. Both amino acids can be crystallized at temperatures greater than 100°C.
Therefore, the crystallization may take place at ambient pressure by removing the excess
water through evaporation. The solubilities of L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine at
100°C are 67 g/liter and 100 g/liter, respectively.
B.8.3 References
1. Takamatch, T., K. Yamashita, and A. Sumi, “Kinetics of Production of L-Aspartic
Acid by Aspartase of Immobilized E. Coli Cells,” Japanese Journal of Fermentation
Technology 58, no. 2 (1980): 129–133.
2. Tsuchida, T., K. Kubota, Y. Morinaga, H. Matsui, H. Enei, and F. Yoshinga, “Produc-
tion of L-Phenylalanine by a Mutant of Brevibacterium lactofermentum 2256,” Agric.
Bio. Chem. 51, no. 8 (1987): 2095–2101.
3. http://www.solidliquid-separation.com.
4. DOWEX MARATHON C data sheet, http://www.dow.com/PublishedLiterature/
dh_0082/0901b80380082af5.pdf?filepath=liquidseps/pdfs/noreg/177-
01593.pdf&fromPage=GetDoc.
B.9 ACRYLIC ACID PRODUCTION VIA THE CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION OF

PROPYLENE [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], UNIT 1000
Acrylic acid (AA) is used as a precursor for a wide variety of chemicals in the polymer
and textile industries. There are several chemical pathways to produce AA, but the most
common one is via the partial oxidation of propylene. The usual mechanism for produc-
ing AA utilizes a two-step process in which propylene is first oxidized to acrolein and
then further oxidized to AA. Each reaction step usually takes place over a separate cata-
lyst and at different operating conditions. The reaction stoichiometry is given below:
C3H6 O2 → C3H4O H2O
acrolein
1
C3H4O O → C3H4O2
2 2
acrylic acid
Several side reactions may occur, most resulting in the oxidation of reactants and prod-
ucts. Some typical side reactions are given below:
7
C3H4O O → 3CO2 2H2O
2 2
3
C3H4O O2 → C2H4O2 CO2
2
acetic acid
9
C3H6 O → 3CO2 3H2O
2 2
Therefore, the typical process setup consists of a two-reactor system, with each reactor
containing a separate catalyst and operating at conditions so as to maximize the produc-
tion of AA. The first reactor typically operates at a higher temperature than the second.
As with any reaction involving the partial oxidation of a fuel-like feed material
(propylene), considerable attention must be paid to the composition of hydrocarbons and
oxygen in the feed stream. In the current design, a fluidized-bed reactor is used, which
provides essentially isothermal conditions in the reactor and, with the addition of large
amounts of steam, allows safe and stable operation. The second safety concern is associ-
ated with the highly exothermic polymerization of AA, which occurs in two ways. First, if
this material is stored without appropriate additives, then free radical initiation of the
polymerization can occur. This potentially disastrous situation is discussed by Kurland
and Bryant [1]. Second, AA dimerizes when in high concentrations at temperatures
greater than 90°C, and thus much of the separation sequence must be operated under
high vacuum in order to keep the bottom temperatures in the columns below this
temperature.

The process shown in Figure B.9.1 produces 50,000 metric tons per year of 99.9% by mole
AA product. The number of operating hours is taken to be 8000/y, and the process is
somewhat simplified because there is only one reactor [5]. It is assumed that both reac-
tions take place on a single catalyst to yield AA and by-products. It is imperative to cool
C-1001A/B E-1001 P-1001A/B R-1001 T-1001 T-1002 P-1002A/B E-1002 T-1003 E-1009 T-1004 E-1003 E-1004
Inlet Air Molten Salt Molten Salt Reactor Quench Off-Gas Quench Quench Acid Solvent Solvent Solvent Solvent
Blower Cooler Circ. Pumps Tower Absorber Pumps Cooler Extractor Exchgr Tower Reboiler Condsr
Deionized Water 11
FIC
T-1002 22
E-1009 T-1003
10
1
cw
9 1
R-1001
15 23
T-1001
200
5.0 40
1 cw
2.4
7 FIC
FIC 5
Air
FIC 8
15
E-1001
Steam C-1001A/B 6
FIC
cw
2 E-1002
12
P-1001A/B
191
Propylene FIC
4.3
3 4 50
P-1002A/B
310
3.5
Figure B.9.1 Unit 1000: Production of Acrylic Acid from Propylene PFD (The
point where Streams 1 and 2 are mixed with Stream 3 to form Stream 4 actually
occurs within Reactor R-1001.)
the products of reaction quickly to avoid further oxidation reactions, and this is achieved
by rapidly quenching the reactor effluent with a cool recycle, Stream 8, of dilute aqueous
AA in T-1001. Additional recovery of AA and acetic acid (a by-product) is achieved in the
absorber, T-1002. The stream leaving the absorption section is a dilute aqueous acid,
Stream 9. This is sent to a liquid-liquid extractor, T-1003, to remove preferentially the acid
fraction from the water prior to purification. There are many possible solvents that can be
used as the organic phase in the separation; high solubility for AA and low solubility for
water are desirable. Some examples include ethyl acrylate, ethyl acetate, xylene, di-
isobutyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and diisopropyl ether (DIPE), which is used
here. The organic phase from T-1003 is sent to a solvent recovery column, T-1004, where
the diisopropyl ether (and some water) is recovered overhead and returned to the extrac-
tor. The bottom stream from this column, Stream 14, contains virtually all the AA and
acetic acid in Stream 9. This is sent to the acid purification column, T-1005, where 95% by
mole acetic acid by-product is produced overhead, and 99.9% by mole AA is produced as
a bottoms product and cooled prior to being sent to storage.
The aqueous phase from the extractor, Stream 12, is sent to a wastewater column,
T-1006, where a small amount of DIPE is recovered overhead and returned to the extrac-
tor. The bottoms product, containing water and trace quantities of solvent and acid, is
sent to wastewater treatment. Process stream information and preliminary equipment
summaries are given in Tables B.9.1 and B.9.2, respectively. A utility summary is also
provided in Table B.9.3.
P-1003A/B P-1004A/B V-1001 T-1005 E-1005 E-1006 P-1005A/B V-1002 T-1006 E-1007 E-1008 P-1006A/B V-1003 P-1007A/B E-1010
Acid Solvent Solvent Acid Acid Acid Acid Acid Waste Waste Waste Waste Waste Product Product
Feed Reflux Reflux Tower Reboiler Condsr Reflux Reflux Tower Reboiler Condsr Reflux Reflux Pumps Cooler
Pumps Pumps Drum Pumps Drum Pumps Drum
Off-Gas to Incinerator
13 47
T-1004 T-1005
0.12 0.07 19
T-1006 Acetic Acid
E-1004 60
E-1006 1.0
16
1
rw cw E-1008
13 15
18 1
cw
V-1001 LIC
V-1002 LIC 21
23 FIC
FIC
V-1003 FIC
FIC
36 6
LIC
LIC
P-1005 A/B 8
lps
P-1004 A/B lps LIC
P-1006 A/B
lps
14
17 20
E-1003 E-1005
P-1003 A/B E-1007 To Wastewater Treatment
40
1.1
o
Acrylic Acid
Temperature, C cw
Pressure, bar P-1007 A/B E-1010 TBWS Designs - Acrylic Acid Process
Drawn by Date
Checked by Date
Approved by Date
Drawing No. Revision 0
Figure B.9.1 (Continued)
B.9.2 Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Configuration

The reactions taking place are kinetically controlled at the conditions used in the process;
that is, equilibrium lies far to the right. The reaction kinetics for the catalyst used in this
process are given below:
3
C3H6 O → C3H4O2 H2O Reaction 1
2 2
acrylic acid
5
C3H6 O → C2H4O2 CO2 H2O Reaction 2
2 2
acetic acid
9
C3H6 O → 3CO2 3H2O Reaction 3
2 2

Ei
where − ri ko,i exp − p p
RT propylene oxygen
122
5/11/12
Stream Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
12:22 AM
Temperature (°C) 25 159 25 191 250 310 63 40 40

Pressure (bar) 1.0 6.0 11.5 4.3 3.0 3.5 1.4 2.4 2.4
Vapor fraction 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 39.05 17.88 5.34 62.27 1075.0 62.27 3.08 1895. 27.46
Page 122
Mole flow (kmol/h) 1362.9 992.3 127.0 2482.2 0.00 2444.0 148.5 85,200.0 1249.6
Component flowrates HiTec
(kmol/h) Molten Salt
Propylene 0.00 0.00 127.0 127.0 0.00 14.7 0.00 0.00 0.00
Nitrogen 1056.7 0.00 0.00 1056.7 0.00 1056.7 0.00 0.00 0.00
Oxygen 280.9 0.00 0.00 280.9 0.00 51.9 0.00 0.00 0.00
Carbon dioxide 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 60.5 0.00 0.00 0.00
Water 25.3 992.3 0.00 1017.6 0.00 1165.9 140.9 78,870 1156.7
Acetic acid 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.54 0.65 415 6.08
Acrylic acid 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 87.79 6.99 5915 86.81
Solvent
(diisopropyl ether) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
5/11/12
Stream Number 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
12:22 AM
Temperature (°C) 25 48 40 40 90 13 13 89 47
Pressure (bar) 5.0 1.0 2.4 2.4 0.19 0.12 3.0 0.16 0.07
Vapor fraction 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 2.54 37.35 20.87 143.0 6.63 155.3 136.4 6.26 5.28
Page 123
Mole flow (kmol/h) 141.0 1335.4 1156.9 1591.2 93.19 1705.7 1498.0 86.85 90.49
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Propylene 0.00 14.7 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Nitrogen 0.00 1056.7 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Oxygen 0.00 51.9 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Carbon dioxide 0.00 60.5 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Water 141.0 150.2 1156.6 198.8 0.30 226.0 198.5 0.00 4.28
Acetic acid 0.00 0.46 0.03 6.08 6.08 0.00 0.00 0.05 86.07
Acrylic acid 0.00 0.98 0.00 86.81 86.81 0.00 0.00 86.80 0.14
Solvent
(diisopropyl ether) 0.00 0.00 0.30 1299.5 0.00 1479.7 1299.5 0.00 0.00
(continued)
123
124
5/11/12
12:22 AM
Temperature (°C) 47 102 60 13 40

Pressure (bar) 1.1 1.1 1.0 3.0 2.8
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Page 124
Mass flow (tonne/h) 0.37 20.84 37.37 136.4 136.4

Mole flow (kmol/h) 6.34 1156.43 470.2 1498.5 1498.5
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Propylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Nitrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Oxygen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Carbon dioxide 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Water 0.30 1156.4 126.8 198.7 198.7
Acetic acid 6.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
Acrylic acid 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Solvent
(diisopropyl ether) 0.00 0.00 343.4 1299.8 1299.8
5/11/12
Table B.9.2 Preliminary Equipment Summary Table for Unit 1000

12:22 AM
Equipment T-1001 T-1002 T-1003 T-1004 T-1005 T-1006 R-1001*

Stainless Stainless Stainless Stainless Carbon Stainless Carbon steel
MOC steel steel steel steel steel steel fluidized bed
Page 125
Diameter (m) 5.3 3.5 2.2 7.5 2.4 2.3 3.6

Height/length 12 11 9.5 34 25 7.0 10
(m)
Orientation Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical
Internals 10 m of high- 15 sieve trays 15 perforated 31 m of high- 36 sieve plates 8 sieve plates 1451 heat
efficiency + demister plates + mixer efficiency Stainless steel Stainless steel transfer
packing structured tubes
packing (1420 m2)
Polyethylene Stainless steel Stainless steel Stainless steel filled with
molten salt
Pressure (barg) 1.4 1.0 1.4 −1.0 −1.0 0 3.0
*Installed cost of reactor (mid-1996) = $2 × 105 [Area (m2)] 0.5.
(continued)
125
126
5/11/12
Table B.9.2 (Continued)

12:22 AM
Equipment P-1001 A/B P-1002 A/B P-1003 A/B P-1004 A/B P-1005 A/B P-1006 A/B P-1007 A/B
Carbon Stainless Stainless Stainless Carbon Carbon Stainless

Page 126
MOC steel steel steel steel steel steel steel

Power (shaft) 32.3 106.2 0.9 51.3 1.2 9.0 1.0
(kW)
Efficiency 75% 75% 40% 75% 40% 60% 40%
Type/drive Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/
electric electric electric electric electric electric electric
Temperature 250 50 90 13 47 60 89
(°C)
Pressure in 2.0 1.4 0.19 0.12 0.07 1.0 0.16
(bar)
Pressure out 3.6 2.9 2.05 4.62 3.31 4.62 2.46
(bar)
5/11/12
Table B.9.2 Preliminary Equipment Summary Table for Unit 1000 (Continued)
Equipment E-1001 E-1002 E-1003 E-1004 E-1005 E-1006 E-1007

12:22 AM
Floating- Floating- Floating- Fixed Floating-

Floating- head head head TS head
Type head Fixed TS reboiler condenser reboiler condenser reboiler
Page 127
Duty (MJ/h) 83,400 70,300 101,000 108,300 2230 2280 21,200

2
Area (m ) 160 2550 891 7710 19.7 73.3 187
Shell
Max temp (°C) 40 40 160 10 160 40 160
Pressure (barg) 4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 5.0
Phase L L Cond. steam L Cond. steam L Cond. steam
MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
Tube side
Max temp (°C) 250 50 90 13 90 47 102
Pressure (barg) 2.0 2.0 −0.81 −0.88 −0.84 −0.93 0.1
MOC Carbon steel Stainless steel Stainless steel Stainless steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Stainless steel
Phase L L Boiling liq. Cond. vapor Boiling liq. Cond. vapor Boiling liq.
(continued)
127
Equipment E-1008 E-1009 E-1010

Fixed TS
Type condenser Floating head Floating head
Duty (MJ/h) 15,800 8000 698
Area (m2) 210 19.7 10.3
Shell side
Max temp (°C) 40 160 40
Pressure (barg) 4.0 5.0 4.0
Phase L Cond. steam L
MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
Tube side
Max temp (°C) 60 40 89
Pressure (barg) 0.0 2.0 1.4
MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Stainless steel
Phase Cond. vapor L L
(continued)
Equipment C-1001 A/B V-1001 V-1002 V-1003
MOC Carbon steel Stainless steel Carbon steel Carbon steel

Power (shaft) (kW) 2260 — — —
Efficiency 77% — — —
Centrifugal
Type/drive Centrifugal −2 — — —
stage/electric
Temperature (°C) 25 — — —
Pressure in (bar) 1.0 — — —
Pressure out (bar) 5.0 — — —
Pressure (barg) — −0.88 −0.93 0.0
Diameter (m) — 2.4 1.0 1.5
Height/length (m) — 7.2 2.5 4.5
Orientation — Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Internals — — — —
Utility cw cw lps rw lps cw lps cw lps cw

Equipment E-1001 E-1002 E-1003 E-1004 E-1005 E-1006 E-1007 E-1008 E-1009 E-1010
Flow 1995.0 1682.0 48.5 5182.0 1.07 54.5 10.19 378.0 3.85 16.7
(tonne/h)
Partial pressures are in kPa, and the activation energies and preexponential terms for re-
actions 1–3 are as follows:
Ei ko,i
i kcal/kmol kmol/m3 reactor h/(kPa)2
1 15,000 1.59 × 105
2 20,000 8.83 × 105
3 25,000 1.81 × 108
The reactor configuration used for this process is a fluidized bed, and it is assumed that
the bed of catalyst behaves as a well-mixed tank—that is, it is isothermal at the tempera-
ture of the reaction (310°C). The gas flow is assumed to be plug flow through the bed,
with 10% of the gas bypassing the catalyst. This latter assumption is made in order to sim-
ulate the gas channeling that occurs in real fluid-bed reactors.

The use of a liquid-liquid extractor requires the use of a thermodynamic package (or
physical property data) that reflects the fact that two phases are formed and that signifi-
cant partitioning of the AA and acetic acid occurs, with the majority going to the organic
phase (in this case DIPE). Distribution coefficients for the organic acids in water and DIPE
as well as mutual solubility data for water/DIPE are desirable. The process given in Fig-
ure B.2 was simulated using a UNIFAC thermodynamics package and the latent heat en-
thalpy option on CHEMCAD and should give reasonable results for preliminary process
design. Much of the process background material and process configuration was taken
from the 1986 AIChE student contest problem in reference [5]. The kinetics presented
above are fictitious but should give reasonable preliminary estimates of reactor size.
B.9.4 References
1. Kurland, J. J., and D. B. Bryant, “Shipboard Polymerization of Acrylic Acid,” Plant
Operations Progress 6, no. 4 (1987): 203–207.
2. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed., Vol. 1 (New York: John
Wiley and Sons, 1978), 330–354.
3. Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, ed. J. J. McKetta and W. A. Cunning-
ham, Vol. 1 (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1976), 402–428.
4. Sakuyama, S., T. Ohara, N. Shimizu, and K. Kubota, “A New Oxidation Process for
Acrylic Acid from Propylene,” Chemical Technology, June 1973, 350.
5. “1986 Student Contest Problem,” The AIChE Student Annual 1986, ed. B. Van Wie
and R. A. Wills (AIChE, 1986), 52–82.
B.10 PRODUCTION OF ACETONE VIA THE DEHYDROGENATION

OF ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (IPA) [1, 2, 3, 4], UNIT 1100
The prevalent process for the production of acetone is as a by-product of the manufacture
of phenol. Benzene is alkylated to cumene, which is further oxidized to cumene hy-
droperoxide and finally cleaved to yield phenol and acetone. However, the process
shown in Figure B.10.1 and discussed here uses isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the raw
V-1101 P-1101A/B E-1101 R-1101 E-1102 E-1103 P-1102A/B H-1101 V-1102 T-1101
IPA Feed IPA Feed IPA Feed IPA Reactor Trim Reactor Reactor Phase Acetone
Drum Pumps Vaporizer Reactor Effluent Cooler Cooler Heater Pumps Furnace Separator Stripper
Process Water poc
FIC 7
hps
234 8
Isopropyl Alcohol 2.16
407 H-1101
2 2.66
E-1101
1 FIC
T-1101
R-1101
4
V-1101 LIC 357
3.00 air ng
TIC P-1102A/B 5
45 20
cw 1.77 rw 1.63
3
P-1101A/B 6
V-1102
E-1102 E-1103
14
Figure B.10.1 Unit 1100: Production of Acetone from Isopropyl Alcohol PFD
material. This is a viable commercial alternative, and a few plants continue to operate
using this process. The primary advantage of this process is that the acetone produced is
free from trace aromatic compounds, particularly benzene. For this reason, acetone pro-
duced from IPA may be favored by the pharmaceutical industry due to the very tight re-
strictions placed on solvents by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The reaction to
produce acetone from IPA is as follows:
(CH3)2CHOH → (CH3)2CO H2
isopropyl alcohol acetone
The reaction conditions are typically 2 bar and 350°C, giving single-pass conversions of
85%–92%.

Referring to Figure B.10.1, an azeotropic mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water (88 wt%
IPA) is fed into a surge vessel (V-1101), where it is mixed with the recycled unreacted
IPA/water mixture, Stream 14. This material is then pumped and vaporized prior to en-
tering the reactor. Heat is provided for the endothermic reaction using a circulating
stream of molten salt, Stream 4. The reactor effluent, containing acetone, hydrogen, water,
and unreacted IPA, is cooled in two exchangers prior to entering the phase separator
(V-1102). The vapor leaving the separator is scrubbed with water to recover additional
acetone, and then this liquid is combined with the liquid from the separator and sent to the
separations section. Two towers are used to separate the acetone product (99.9 mol%) and
T-1102 E-1104 V-1103 E-1105 P-1103A/B P-1104A/B T-1103 E-1106 E-1107 V-1104 P-1105A/B E-1108
Acetone Acetone Acetone Acetone Acetone IPA IPA IPA IPA IPA IPA Waste-
Column Overhead Reflux Reboiler Reflux Column Column Overhead Reboiler Reflux Reflux water
Condenser Drum Pumps Pumps Condenser Drum Pumps Cooler
16
cw
61 E-1104 Hydrogen
PIC
1.20
11
cw
1 E-1106
FIC V-1103 LIC Acetone
T-1102 T-1103
1
10 V-1104 LIC
FIC
33 13
P-1103 A/B
E-1105 66
16
LIC P-1105 A/B
lps E-1107 19
LIC cw 45
1.26
lps
12 15
P-1104 A/B E-1108 Wastewater

o
Temperature, C
TBWS Designs - Acetone Process
Pressure, bar
Drawn by Date
Checked by Date
Approved by Date
to remove the excess water from the unused IPA, which is then recycled back to the front
end of the process as an azeotropic mixture. Stream summaries, preliminary equipment,
and utility summaries are given in Tables B.10.1, B.10.2, and B.10.3, respectively.

The reaction to form acetone from isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) is endothermic, with a
standard heat of reaction of 62.9 kJ/mol. The reaction is kinetically controlled and occurs
in the vapor phase over a catalyst. The reaction kinetics for this reaction are first order
with respect to the concentration of alcohol and can be estimated from the following
equation [3, 4]:

Ea kmol
− rIPA k0 exp − C
RT IPA m3reactor s
m3gas kmol
where Ea 72.38MJkmol, k0 3.51 105 3 , CIPA 3
m reactor s m gas
In practice, several side reactions can occur to a small extent. Thus, trace quantities of
propylene, diisopropyl ether, acetaldehyde, and other hydrocarbons and oxides of carbon
can be formed [1]. The noncondensables are removed with the hydrogen, and the aldehy-
des and ethers may be removed with acid washing or adsorption. These side reactions are
not accounted for in this preliminary design.
For the design presented in Figure B.10.1, the reactor was simulated with catalyst in
2-in (50.4 mm) diameter tubes, each 20 ft (6.096 m) long, and with a cocurrent flow of a
heat transfer medium on the shell side of the shell-and-tube reactor. The resulting
arrangement gives a 90% conversion of IPA per pass.

Isopropyl alcohol and water form a minimum boiling point azeotrope at 88 wt% iso-
propyl alcohol and 12 wt% water. Vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data are available from
several sources and can be used to back-calculate binary interaction parameters or liquid-
phase activity coefficients. The process presented in Figure B.3 and Table B.6 was simu-
lated using the UNIQUAC VLE thermodynamics package and the latent heat enthalpy
option in the CHEMCAD simulator. This package correctly predicts the formation of the
azeotrope at 88 wt% alcohol.
B.10.4 References
1. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3d ed., Vol. 1 (New York: John
Wiley and Sons, 1976), 179–191.
2. Shreve’s Chemical Process Industries, 5th ed., ed. G. T. Austin (New York: McGraw-
Hill, 1984), 764.
3. Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design, Vol. 1, ed. J. J. McKetta and W. A.
Cunningham (New York: Marcel Dekker, 1976), 314–362.
4. Sheely, C. Q., Kinetics of Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Isopropanol, Ph.D. Thesis, Uni-
versity of Illinois, 1963.
B.11 PRODUCTION OF HEPTENES FROM PROPYLENE AND BUTENES [1],

UNIT 1200
The background information for this process is taken from Chauvel et al. [1]. This
example is an illustration of a preliminary estimate of a process to convert a mixture
of C3 and C4 unsaturated hydrocarbons to 1-heptene and other unsaturated products.
The market for the 1-heptene product would be as a highoctane blending agent for
gasoline or in the production of plasticizers. Based on preliminary market estimates, a
production capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year of 1-heptene using 8000 operating
hours/y was set. This process differs from the other examples in Appendix B in sev-
eral ways. First, the raw materials to the process contain a wide variety of chemicals.
This is typical for oil refinery and some petrochemical operations. Second, no specific
kinetic equations are given for the reactions. Instead, the results of laboratory tests
using the desired catalyst at different conditions and using different feed materials are
used to guide the process engineer to an optimum, or close to an optimum, reactor
configuration. The flowsheet in Figure B.11.1 and stream, equipment summary, and
utility summary tables, Tables B.11.1–B.11.3, have been developed using such infor-
mation. It should be noted that a preliminary economic analysis, and hence the feasi-
bility of the process, can be determined without this information, as long as yield and
conversion data are available and the reactor configuration can be estimated.
5/11/12

12:22 AM
Temperature (oC) 25 32 350 357 20 27 33 25
Page 133
Pressure (bar) 1.01 2.30 1.91 3.0 1.63 1.63 1.50 2.0
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 2.40 2.67 2.67 35.1 0.34 0.46 0.24 0.36
Mole flow (kmol/h) 51.96 57.84 92.62 0.00 39.74 21.14 38.60 20.00
Component flowrates Molten
(kmol/h) Salt
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 34.78 0.00 34.78 0.00 34.78 0.00
Acetone 0.00 0.16 34.94 0.00 4.44 1.93 2.51 0.00
Isopropyl alcohol 34.82 38.64 3.86 0.00 0.12 0.10 0.02 0.00
Water 17.14 19.04 19.04 0.00 0.40 19.11 1.29 20.00
(continued)
133
134
5/11/12
12:22 AM
Stream Number 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Temperature (oC) 22 61 61 90 83 83 109 33
Page 134
Pressure (bar) 1.63 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.2
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 2.79 4.22 1.88 0.92 8.23 0.27 0.65 0.24
Mole flow (kmol/h) 74.02 72.51 32.29 41.73 177.18 5.88 35.85 38.60
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Hydrogen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 34.78
Acetone 32.43 72.46 32.27 0.16 4.82 0.16 0.00 2.51
Isopropyl alcohol 3.84 0.05 0.02 3.82 115.10 3.82 0.00 0.02
Water 37.75 0.00 0.00 37.75 57.26 1.90 35.85 1.29

5/11/12
Equipment P-1101 A/B P-1102 A/B P-1103 A/B P-1104 A/B P-1105 A/B V-1101 V-1102
12:22 AM
Power (shaft)
(kW) 0.43 2.53 1.75 0.06 1.45 0.00 0.00
Efficiency 40% 50% 40% 40% 40% 0.00 0.00
Type/drive Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ 0.00 0.00
Page 135
electric electric electric electric electric

Temperature 25 400 61 90 83 0.00 0.00
(°C)
Pressure in 1.13 1.83 1.41 1.93 1.42 0.00 0.00
(bar)
Pressure out
(bar) 3.00 3.00 4.48 2.78 3.25 0.00 0.00
Diameter (m) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.80 0.75
Height/length 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.40 2.25
(m)
Orientation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Horizontal Vertical
Internals 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 SS demister
Pressure
(barg) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.63
(continued)
135
136
5/11/12
Equipment V-1103 V-1104 T-1101 T-1102 T-1103 H-1101 R-1101

12:22 AM
Diameter (m) 0.83 0.93 0.33 1.25 1.36 0.00 1.85

Height/length (m) 2.50 2.80 3.20 37.0 18.6 0.00 8.0
Orientation Horizontal Horizontal Vertical Vertical Vertical 0.00 Vertical
Page 136
Internals 0.00 0.00 2.5 m of 66 SS sieve 19 SS sieve 0.00 448 2” diameter,

packing plates @ 18” plates @ 24” 20’ long catalyst
1” ceramic spacing spacing filled tubes
Raschig rings
Pressure 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.4 0.4 0.00 2.0
(barg)
Type 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Fired heater 0.00
Duty (MJ/h) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2730 0.00
Area radiant 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.1 0.00
(m2)
Area 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.4 0.00
convective
(m2)
Tube pressure 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.0 0.00
(barg)

5/11/12
Equipment E-1101 E-1102 E-1103 E-1104 E-1105 E-1106 E-1107 E-1108

Type Float-head Float-head Float-head Fixed TS Float-head Fixed TS Float-head Double pipe
vaporizer partial cond. partial cond. condenser reboiler condenser reboiler
12:22 AM
Duty (MJ/h) 3550 3260 563 3095 3500 7340 7390 174
Area (m2) 70.3 77.6 8.5 39.1 30.9 50.2 65.1 1.6
Shell side
Page 137
Max. temp 234 350 45 61 90 83 109 109

(oC)
Pressure 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.4
(barg)
Phase Boiling Cond. Cond. Cond. Boiling Cond. Boiling L
liq. vapor vapor vapor liq. vapor liq.
MOC Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon
steel steel steel steel steel steel steel steel
Tube side
Max. temp 254 40 15 40 160 40 160 40
(oC)
Pressure 41.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 3.0
(barg)
Phase Cond. steam L L L Cond. steam L Cond. steam L
MOC Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon Carbon
steel steel steel steel steel steel steel steel
137
Utility hps cw rw cw lps cw lps cw

Equipment E-1101 E-1102 E-1103 E-1104 E-1105 E-1106 E-1107 E-1108
Flow 2.09 77.90 13.50 74.00 1.68 176.00 3.55 4.16
(tonne/h)

Two liquid feed streams containing propylene and butene and a stream of catalyst slur-
ried with 1-hexene are mixed at a pressure of approximately 8 bar prior to being sent to
the reactor. The reactor consists of five essentially well-mixed sections, with similar con-
centrations in each section. Heat removal is achieved by using pump-arounds from each
stage through external heat exchangers. The reactor effluent is partially vaporized before
being fed to the first of three distillation columns. The first column (T-1201) removes the
unreacted C3 and C4 components, which are used subsequently as fuel (Stream 7) or sent
to LPG storage (Stream 6). The next column (T-1202) separates the 1-hexene product over-
head (Stream 10) and sends the bottoms stream to the final column (T-1203). In T-1203,
the main 1-heptene product (Stream 13) is taken overhead, and the C8 and heavier com-
pounds are taken as the bottoms product (Stream 14). The bottoms product is processed
off-site to remove the heavy material and to recover spent catalyst.
V-1201 P-1201A/B V-1202 R-1201 E-1201 A-E P-1202 A-G E-1202 T-1201 E-1203 V-1203 P-1203 A/B
E-1204
Propylene Butene Butene Heptene Reactor Reactor Reactor C3/C4 C3/C4 C3/C4
C3/C4 C3/C4
Feed Tank Feed Pumps Feed Tank Reactor Intercoolers Pumps Effluent Tower Reboiler Overhead Reflux Reflux
Heater Condensr Drum Pumps
3
R-1201
Catalyst Makeup FIC
7
45
5.50 cw
E-1204
PIC
TIC
C 3 Feed cw 6
T-1201
1 LIC
FIC V-1203
1 TIC
cw 103
5.80 5
V-1201 FIC
TIC 11
P-1203 A/B
cw
C 4 Feed E-1203 20
TIC
cw lps LIC
2
TIC
FIC
cw
V-1202 8
P-1202 A-G E-1201 A-E
P-1201 A/B lps

E-1202
Figure B.11.1 Unit 1200: Production of Heptenes from Propylene and Butenes PFD

The process given in Figure B.11.1 is based on the liquid-phase catalytic co-dimerization
of C3 and C4 olefins using an organometallic catalyst. This catalyst is slurried with a small
volume of the hexenes product and fed to the reactor with the feed streams. The volume
of the catalyst stream is small compared with the other streams and is not included in the
material balance given in Table B.11.1. In 1976 (CEPCI = 183), consumption of catalyst
amounted to $9.5/1000 kg of 1-heptene product [1].
The primary reactions that take place are as follows:
C3H6 C3H6 → C6H12
1-hexene
C3H6 C4H8 → C7H14

1-heptene
C4H8 C4H8 → C8H16

1-octene
C3H6 2C4H8 → C11H22

1-undecene
T-1202 E-1205 P-1204 A/B E-1206 V-1204 P-1205 A/B E-1207 T-1203 E-1208 E-1209 E-1210 E-1211 V-1205 P-1206 A/B
C6 C6 C7/C8 Feed C6 C6 C6 Reflux C7 C7 C7 C6 C7 C8 C7 Reflux C7 Reflux
Tower Reboiler Pumps Ovhd Reflux Pumps Product Tower Reboiler Ovhd Prod Prod Drum Pumps
Condsr Drum Cooler Condsr Cooler Cooler
C3 Fuel Gas
C4 to LPG
cw E-1207 45
78 E-1206 1.70 Hexenes
2.00
107 cw
cw E-1209
1.50
1 V-1204 LIC
FIC
T-1202
45
1 V-1205 cw 1.20
10 FIC LIC
9 Heptenes
13
20 T-1203 12
P-1205 A/B
24 E-1210
E-1205 38 P-1206 A/B
LIC E-1208 41
lps
LIC
lps E-1211 45
cw 1.70
C 8 + Heavies
11 14
o
P-1204 A/B Temperature, C
Pressure, bar TBWS Designs - Heptenes Process
Drawn by Date
Checked by Date
Approved by Date

Stream Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Temperature (oC) 25 25 26 45 45 45 45
Pressure (bar) 11.6 3.0 8.0 7.7 7.5 6.5 5.0
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 3.15 9.29 12.44 12.44 3.68 6.66 0.13
Mole flow (kmol/h) 74.57 163.21 237.78 178.10 64.41 116.45 3.00
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Propane 3.56 0.00 3.56 3.56 0.31 0.56 3.00
Propylene 71.06 0.00 71.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
i-Butane 0.00 29.44 29.44 29.44 16.19 29.28 0.00
n-Butane 0.00 34.41 34.41 34.41 18.65 33.72 0.00
i-Butene 0.00 8.27 8.27 8.27 4.53 8.19 0.00
1-Butene 0.00 90.95 90.95 44.94 24.61 44.49 0.00
1-Hexene 0.00 0.14 0.14 21.21 0.12 0.21 0.00
1-Heptene 0.00 0.00 0.00 26.53 0.00 0.00 0.00
1-Octene 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.41 0.00 0.00 0.00
1-Undecene 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.34 0.00 0.00 0.00
Stream Number 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Temperature (oC) 151 78 78 135 107 107 154
Pressure (bar) 5.8 4.5 4.5 2.5 4.0 4.0 2.0
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 5.64 5.79 1.86 3.79 4.30 2.53 1.26
Mole flow (kmol/h) 58.65 69.84 22.44 36.22 43.78 25.76 10.46
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Propane 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Propylene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
i-Butane 0.16 0.50 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
n-Butane 0.69 2.15 0.69 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
i-Butene 0.08 0.25 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1-Butene 0.45 1.40 0.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1-Hexene 21.00 64.70 20.79 0.21 0.36 0.21 0.00
1-Heptene 26.52 0.84 0.27 26.26 43.28 25.47 0.79
1-Octene 7.41 0.00 0.00 7.41 0.14 0.08 7.33
1-Undecene 2.34 0.00 0.00 2.34 0.00 0.00 2.34
5/11/12

12:22 AM
Equipment P-1201 A/B P-1202 A-G* P-1203 A/B P-1204 A/B P-1205 A/B P-1206 A/B
MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
Power (shaft) 6.75 5.13 2.75 0.66 2.15 1.93
Page 141
(kW)
Efficiency 40% 70% 40% 40% 40% 40%
Type/drive Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/ Centrifugal/
electric electric electric electric electric electric
Temperature 25 45 45 151 78 107
(°C)
Pressure in 2.97 8.00 5.50 2.50 2.00 1.50
(bar)
Pressure out 9.00 9.00 7.55 4.00 4.47 4.00
(bar)
*Seven identical pumps: five operating + two spares.
(continued)
141
142
Table B.11.2 Preliminary Equipment Summary Table for

Unit 1200 (Continued)
5/11/12
Equipment V-1201 V-1202 V-1203 V-1204 V-1205

MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
12:22 AM
Diameter (m) 1.40 1.90 1.10 0.95 0.92

Height/length 4.20 5.7 3.30 2.85 2.75
(m)
Orientation Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Page 142
Internals — — — — —
Pressure 20.0 5.0 4.5 1.0 0.5
(barg)
Equipment R-1201 T-1201 T-1202 T-1203

MOC Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel Carbon steel
Diameter (m) 3.00 1.05 1.10 0.90
Height/length 13.0 20.7 26.0 27.3
(m)
Orientation Vertical Vertical Vertical Vertical
Internals Reactor split 20 SS sieve 38 SS sieve 41 SS sieve
into 5 equal plates @ 24” plates @ 18” plates @ 18”
sections spacing spacing spacing
Pressure 7.0 5.0 1.5 1.0
(barg)
5/11/12
Equipment E-1201 A-E* E-1202 E-1203 E-1204 E-1205 E-1206

Type Fixed TS Float-head Float-head Fixed TS Float-head Fixed TS
12:22 AM
partial vap. reboiler condenser reboiler condenser

Duty (MJ/h) 846 3827 1251 3577 2184 2630
Area (m2) 61.4 33.8 32.1 128.5 21.1 20.0
Page 143
Shell side
Max. temp 45 160 160 45 160 78
(oC)
Pressure 8.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0 1.0
(barg)
Phase L Cond. steam Cond. steam Cond. vapor Cond. steam Cond. vapor
Tube side
Max. temp 40 103 151 40 135 40
(oC)
Pressure 3.0 6.7 4.8 3.0 1.5 3.0
(barg)
Phase L L+V Boiling liq. L Boiling liq. L
*Area and duty given for one exchanger; five identical exchangers are needed.
(continued)
143
144
5/11/12
Table B.11.2 Preliminary Equipment Summary Table for

Unit 1200 (Continued)
Equipment E-1207 E-1208 E-1209 E-1210 E-1211

12:22 AM
Type Double pipe Float-head Fixed TS Double pipe Double pipe

reboiler condenser
Duty (MJ/h) 146 2026 2146 372 330
2
Area (m ) 2.1 75.3 9.7 3.9 2.4
Page 144
Shell side
Max. temp 78 160 107 107 154
(oC)
Pressure 1.0 5.0 0.5 0.3 0.7
(barg)
Phase L Cond. steam Cond. vapor L L
Tube side
Max. temp 40 154 40 40 40
(oC)
Pressure 3.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
(barg)
Phase L Boiling liq. L L L
5/11/12
12:22 AM

Page 145
Utility cw lps lps cw lps cw cw lps cw cw cw

Equipment E-1201 A-E E-1202 E-1203 E-1204 E-1205 E-1206 E-1207 E-1208 E-1209 E-1210 E-1211
Temperature
in (°C) 30 160 160 30 160 30 30 160 30 30 30
Temperature
out (°C) 40 160 160 40 160 40 40 160 40 40 40
Flow (tonne/h) 20.20* 1.84 0.60 85.50 1.05 62.90 3.49 0.97 51.30 8.90 7.89
*Flow of cooling water shown for one exchanger only.
145
In order to maximize the selectivity of the heptene reaction, several reactor configura-
tions were considered [1]. The reactor configuration that maximized the heptene produc-
tion, in a minimum volume, was found to be a plug flow reactor in which the butene
feed was introduced at one end and the propylene stream was injected along the side of
the reactor. However, due to other considerations such as reactor complexity, it was
finally decided to use a reactor with five equal stages in which the concentration in each
stage is maintained approximately the same. Heat removal and mixing in each stage are
accomplished by withdrawing a stream of material and pumping it through an external
heat exchanger and back into the same stage of the reactor. The liquid cascades down-
ward from stage to stage by means of liquid downcomers. The inside of the reactor can
thus be considered similar to a five-plate distillation column (without vapor flow). The
distribution of the feeds into the different stages is not shown in Figure B.11.1, and the
dimensions of the reactor are taken directly from Chauvel et al. [1].

All the hydrocarbon components used in the simulation can be considered to be well be-
haved, that is no azeotrope formation. The simulations were carried out using the SRK
VLE and enthalpy packages using the CHEMCAD simulator.
B.11.4 Reference
1. Chauvel, A., P. Leprince, Y. Barthel, C. Raimbault, and J-P Arlie, Manual
of Economic Analysis of Chemical Processes, trans. R. Miller and E. B. Miller (New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1976), 207–228.
B.12 DESIGN OF A SHIFT REACTOR UNIT TO CONVERT CO TO CO2, UNIT 1300
The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction has been traditionally used to produce hydrogen from
syngas, which comprises CO and H2. This process can also be used for producing com-
bustion gas with lower levels of carbon from a carbon-rich syngas. The shift reaction is
mildly exothermic and equilibrium limited. Therefore, the extent of reaction becomes lim-
ited as the temperature increases along the length of the reactor. A two-stage process with
interstage cooling is used to achieve the desired extent of conversion. A higher tempera-
ture results in a higher reaction rate, and a chromia-promoted iron oxide catalyst is used
in the first stage. The second stage operates at a comparatively lower temperature, where
a copper-zinc catalyst is used. The main reaction is
CO + H2O 3 CO2 + H2 (B.12.1)

A process flow diagram for a water-gas shift (WGS) reaction system is shown in
Figure B.12.1. The objective of the process is to achieve an overall 90% conversion of CO
in the process. Syngas, Stream 1, is first heated in H-1301 before being mixed with steam.
The effluent from the first-stage reactor, R-1301, is cooled in E-1301 before being sent to
the second reactor stage, R-1302. The residual heat in the effluent from the second-stage
reactor is utilized by raising low-pressure steam in E-1302. The reactor effluent is further
cooled using cooling water in E-1303 before being sent to the flash separator, V-1301. The
off-gas from V-1301 is usually sent to a hydrogen-recovery process or to a combustion

system. The bottom product from V-1301 is sent to the wastewater treatment unit.

The rate equation representing midlife activity of a typical WGS reactor catalyst is given
by Rase [1] as
yco2yH2
d a ycoyH2O - b
-E0
-rco = k0 expc (B.12.2)
RT Keq
where
k0 = 0.2986 kmol/(kg cat. s) for iron catalyst

= 0.0090 kmol/(kg cat. s) for copper-zinc catalyst
E0 = 40,739 kJ/kmol for iron catalyst

= 15,427 kJ/kmol for copper-zinc catalyst
d for 589 K 6 T 6 756 K

4577.9
Keq = expc -4.33 +
T
d for 422 K 6 T 6 589 K

4800
= expc -4.72 +
T
Particle density = 2018 kg/m3 for iron catalyst

= 2483 kg/m3 for copper-zinc catalyst
Bulk density = 1121 kg/m3 for the first bed with iron catalyst
= 1442 kg/m3 for copper-zinc catalyst
Particle diameter = 1.0 mm for both catalysts
In this process, the steam/CO ratio can be manipulated to affect the CO conversion.
The optimum values can be determined by an economic analysis. A higher steam/CO
ratio may result in a shorter overall reactor length and less residual CO, but it adds to the
cost due to the use of steam and a larger diameter of the reactor(s) to accommodate the
larger flowrate. Table B.12.1 shows stream data for a process using a steam/CO ratio of 3
(molar basis).
B.12.3 Simulation (Aspen Plus) Hints

An Aspen Plus simulation is the basis for the design. The Peng-Robinson equation of state
is used for the process side. The Ergun equation is used for calculating the pressure drop
in the reactors. It should be noted that the steam/CO ratio affects not only the extent of
CO conversion but also the temperature in the reactors. The maximum allowable temper-
ature for the catalysts indicated in Table B.12.3 should not be violated.
H-1301 R-1301 E-1301 R-1302 E-1302 E-1303 V-1301
148
Syngas First-Stage Interstage Second-Stage Low-Pressure Reactor Shifted
Heater WGS Cooler WGS Steam Effluent Syngas

Reactor Reactor Generator Cooler Separator
FIC
5/11/12
4 5
Steam
poc
12:20 AM
9
FIC
H-1301 Shifted
50 Syngas
1 2
3 12.8
Page 148
Syngas
6 V-1301
air ng
LIC
R-1301
E-1303
10
7 Condensate to
185
Wastewater
E-1301 13.2
Tr eatment Unit
203
14.2 E-1302
R-1302
T (°C)
P (bar)
Figure B.12.1 Unit 1300: Shift Reactor Unit Flow Diagram

Temperature (°C) 115 320 325 319.7
Pressure (bar) 16.7 15.2 16.2 15.2
Vapor fraction 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Mass flow (kg/h) 2191.2 2191.2 1678.3 3869.5
Mole flow (kmol/h) 100.0 100.0 93.2 193.2
CO 31.3 31.3 0.0 31.3
CO2 27.7 27.7 0.0 27.7
H2 40.2 40.2 0.0 40.2
H2O 0.8 0.8 93.2 94.0
Temperature (°C) 425.1 250.1 50 50
Pressure (bar) 14.7 13.8 12.7 11.7
Mass flow (kg/h) 3869.5 3869.5 2705.0 1164.5
Mole flow (kmol/h) 193.2 193.2 128.6 64.6
CO 11.6 3.1 3.1 0.0
CO2 47.4 55.9 55.9 0.0
H2 59.9 68.4 68.4 0.0
H2O 74.3 65.8 1.2 64.6

E-1301 E-1302 E-1303
bfw bfw cw
688 kg/h 201 kg/h 90,365 kg/h


Heat Exchangers
E-1301 E-1302
A = 67.2 m2 A = 31.7 m2
Q = 1580 MJ/h Q = 455 MJ/h
E-1303
A = 62.2 m2
Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Process stream in shell
Q = 3764 MJ/h
Maximum pressure rating of 19 bar
Reactors
R-1301 R-1302
Carbon steel, chromia-promoted iron oxide catalyst Carbon steel, copper-zinc oxide catalyst
Catalyst bed height = 2.8 m Catalyst bed height = 1.9 m
Maximum allowable catalyst temperature = 477°C Maximum allowable catalyst temperature = 288°C
Vessel
V-1301
Vertical
Carbon steel
Length = 1.83 m
Diameter = 0.61 m
Fired Heater
H-1301
Vertical
Required heat load = 696 MJ/h
Design (maximum) heat load = 800 MJ/h
B.12.4 Reference
1. Rase, H. F., Chemical Reactor Design for Process Plants, Vol. 2: Case Studies and De-
sign Data (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1977).
B.13 DESIGN OF A DUAL-STAGE SELEXOL UNIT TO REMOVE CO2 AND H2S

FROM COAL-DERIVED SYNTHESIS GAS, UNIT 1400
CO2 capture and sequestration from coal-derived syngas is being strongly considered to
reduce environmental pollution. Because of a number of advantages, such as lower
solvent loss, higher selectivity toward H2S, better thermal stability, better water solubility,
and lower circulation rate [1], dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol (DEPG, Selexol) is
very suitable for selective capture of CO2 and H2S when the partial pressure of these acid
gases is high.

A process flow diagram for the dual-stage Selexol unit [1] is shown in Figure B.13.1. The
objective of the plant design is to achieve an overall 80% capture of CO2 in the process
and to ensure that the H2S content of the clean gas is less than 5 ppmv. In addition, the
H2S concentration in Stream 14 should be 45 mol%. In this project, the dual-stage Selexol
unit is configured for selective removal of H2S (first stage) and CO2 (second stage) from
the sour syngas using the Selexol solvent. Most of the H2S in the syngas is absorbed in the
semi-lean solvent as it passes through the H2S absorber. The off-gas from the top of the
H2S absorber is sent to the CO2 absorber. A portion of the loaded solvent from the bottom
of the CO2 absorber is cooled in a water cooler, chilled, and then sent to the H2S absorber.
The rich solvent from the bottom of the H2S absorber is heated by exchanging heat with
the lean solvent from the stripper. Then, the syngas goes to a flash vessel (V-1403),
called an H2S concentrator, that helps to decrease the CO2 content in the rich solvent. The
vapor from the flash vessel is recycled back to the H2S absorber. The bottom stream from
the flash vessel goes to the Selexol stripper, which uses a combination of stripping steam
and a reboiler for regenerating the solvent. The stripper off-gas, Stream 14, goes to the
Claus unit, where the H2S concentration must be maintained at a desired value for main-
taining the Claus furnace temperature. Along with the stripper, the H2S concentrator
plays a key role in generating the desired H2S concentration in the feed to the Claus unit.
Makeup solvent is mixed with the stripped solvent and sent to the top tray of the CO2
absorber. The remaining portion of the loaded solvent from the bottom of the CO2 ab-
sorber is heated and sent through a series of two flash vessels, called medium-pressure
(MP) and low-pressure (LP) flash vessels, respectively, to recover CO2 for compression in
preparation for storage. The semi-lean solvent leaving the LP flash vessel is pumped by
P-1402 and then chilled before returning to the fourth tray of the CO2 absorber. An NH3
vapor-compression cycle is usually considered for refrigeration. For simplicity, it can be
assumed that a refrigerant is available at –20°C.

In this study, the solvent, Selexol, is represented by an Aspen Plus databank
component with an average molecular weight of 280. The perturbed chain SAFT
(PC-SAFT) EOS based on the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) is used to rep-
resent the thermophysical and transport property of the Selexol system accurately [2].
The DEPG vapor pressure, liquid density, heat capacity, viscosity, and thermal con-
ductivity of the solvent have been regressed in Aspen Plus using published data [3].
Available data in the open literature on vapor-liquid equilibrium between the
DEPG solvent and the selected species have been used to adjust the binary interaction
parameters [4].
As mentioned before, the plant should be designed for 80% CO2 capture, for captur-
ing H2S such that the H2S concentration in Stream 14 is about 45 mol%. Because of a very
high selectivity of H2S in Selexol (H2S solubility is about nine times that of CO2 in the
Selexol solvent), the H2S content of the clean gas becomes much less than 5 ppmv when 80%
CO2 is captured. Consequently, two design blocks (or controllers) are used. One design block
maintains 80% CO2 capture by manipulating the flowrate of Stream 10. The other design
152
E-1401 E-1402 V-1401 V-1402 V-1403 T-1403 P-1403 T-1401 T-1402
Intermediate Semi-lean MP CO2 LP CO2 H2S Stripper Stripper H2S CO2

Solvent Cooler Solvent Cooler Flash Drum Flash Drum Concentrator Reflux Pump Absorber Absorber
E-1403 E-1404 P-1404 P-1401 P-1402 V-1404 E-1405 E-1406
H2S Concentrator Recycle Gas Lean Solvent Intermediate Semi-lean Stripper Stripper Stripper
Feed/Bottom Exchanger Cooler Pump Solvent Pump Solvent Pump Reflux Drum Condenser Reboiler
5/11/12
9
FIC Clean
refrg
Syngas
10 4.4 22.1 P-1402
12:20 AM
MP CO2
T-1402
P-1404
FIC
E-1402 5
refrg LP CO2
V-1401
E-1407 2
7
4.4 LIC 4
Page 152
refrg
V-1402
T-1401 3 LIC
E-1401 6
Sour air P-1401
Syngas 70 22.1
LIC
H2S Rich Gas
1 111 E-1405
8 to Claus Unit
1.25
E-1404 14
LIC
11 cw
12
C-1401
T-1403
16 V-1404 LIC
FIC
17 E-1403
V-1403 Sour
Water
P-1403
170
19 15
Makeup
Solvent
LIC
FIC hps
Nitrogen
13 E-1406
20
Solvent
Purge
18
High-Pressure FIC
Steam
o
Te mperature, C
21
Pressure, bar
Figure B.13.1 Unit 1400: Selexol Unit Flow Diagram

block maintains the H2S concentration in Stream 14 by manipulating the operating pres-
sure of V-1403. This flowsheet contains a number of recycle streams along with the design
blocks. In addition, considerable mass and heat integration exists. Therefore, an appropri-
ate solution strategy must be considered to avoid convergence failure. In Section 16.3 a
number of approaches to solve such problems were outlined. The equation-oriented (EO)
method is suggested for this problem where a few iterations can be performed using the
sequential modular approach to generate a reasonable initial guess.
In Table B.13.3, it can be noted that the duty of heat exchanger E-1403 is very high.
Consequently, a large heat-exchange area is calculated. Usually, a proprietary, plate-type
heat exchanger is used for this service, which can provide a very high heat-exchange area
and achieve a temperature approach as low as 5°C. This can significantly reduce the
duties of E-1406 and E-1407.
It should be noted that Stream 5 contains a high amount of H2. To recover the H2,
the solvent can be flashed in a vessel that operates at a higher pressure than V-1401, and
H2 can be recycled to T-1402. This introduces another recycle stream. For simplicity, this
option is not considered here. Interested students are encouraged to implement this
option for H2 recovery.
Table B.13.1 Stream Table for Unit 1400*
Temperature (°C) 20.1 7.2 10.8 11.3 9.7
Pressure (bar) 21.4 20.7 23.4 5.1 5.1
Vapor fraction 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.02 1.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 104.6 123.8 729.1 2209.5 9.62
Mole flow (kmol/h) 5389.0 5888.1 4490.4 13,607.8 270.5
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Selexol 0.0 0.0 2430.0 7364.0 0.0
CO 28.8 29.2 0.3 1.0 0.8
CO2 1114.0 1495.8 446.3 1352.5 187.9
H2 2468.8 2481.9 13.1 39.8 36.6
H2O 23.1 4.4 1583.3 4798.1 0.8
N2 1605.1 1818.3 14.8 44.9 39.4
AR 33.0 34.8 1.3 3.7 2.3
CH4 48.0 49.2 1.3 3.8 2.7
NH3 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
4 5 4
(1.4 × 10 ) (9.2 × 10 ) (2.8 × 10 ) (6.7 × 106)
H2S 67.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
4
(7.9 × 10 ) 4
(5.5 × 10 ) 3
(1.7 × 10 ) (3.2 × 105)
*Whenever NH3 and H2S flows are low, they are provided inside parentheses for tracking these
species through the flowsheet mainly because these species are maintained at a very low level
(ppm level) in the clean gas.
(continued)
Temperature (°C) 9.7 6.1 6.1 8.2 5.2
Pressure (bar) 5.1 1.5 1.5 20.0 21.7
Vapor fraction 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 2199.8 28.5 2171.4 66.7 709.04
Mole flow (kmol/h) 13,337.3 655.8 12,681.5 4516.1 4019.2
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Selexol 7364.0 0.0 7364.0 0.0 2430.0
CO 0.2 0.2 0.0 27.9 0.0
CO2 1164.6 638.7 525.9 222.8 0.0
H2 3.2 3.2 0.0 2429.0 0.0
H2O 4797.3 6.0 4791.3 3.5 1589.2
N2 5.5 5.4 0.1 1758.7 0.0
AR 1.4 1.3 0.1 30.0 0.0
CH4 1.1 1.0 0.1 44.2 0.0
NH3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
(2.7 × 104) (4.2 × 105) (2.29 × 104) (1.4 × 106) (5.0 × 1011)
H2S 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
(1.6 × 103) (2.0 × 104) (1.4 × 103) (5.1 × 106) (2.3 × 108)
Temperature (°C) 12.0 169.3 169.3 50.0 50.0
Pressure (bar) 20.8 10.0 10.0 1.2 5.0
Vapor fraction 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 738.0 29.2 714.5 5.45 1.54
Mole flow (kmol/h) 4753.8 787.9 4165.9 148.9 85.2
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Selexol 2434.2 4.2 2430.0 0.0 0.0
CO 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
CO2 459.7 395.1 64.6 64.5 0.0
H2 13.4 13.4 0.0 0.0 0.0
H2O 1654.5 52.5 1602.0 15.2 85.1
N2 13.6 212.0 0.9 0.9 0.0
AR 1.3 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.0
CH4 1.3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
NH3 3.5 2.4 1.1 1.1 0.0 (0.013)
H2S 172.0 104.9 67.1 67.0 0.0 (0.081)
Stream Number 16 17 18 19 20 21
Temperature (°C) 50.0 49.0 49.0 30.0 100.0 160.0
Pressure (bar) 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.5 20.0 6.0
Vapor fraction 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
Mass flow (kg/h) 2.11 709.1 1.5 1.4 5.61 1.63
Mole flow (kmol/h) 117.1 4022.5 8.3 5.0 200.0 90.7
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Selexol 0.0 2430.0 5.0 5.0 0.0 0.0
CO 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
CO2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
H2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
H2O 116.9 1593.0 3.3 0.0 0.0 90.7
N2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 199.2 0.0
AR 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0
CH4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
NH3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
11 13
(0.017) (5.0 × 10 ) (1.0 × 10 )
H2S 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
8 11
(2.4 × 10 ) (4.8 × 10 )
E-1401 E-1402 E-1405 E-1406 E-1407
refrigerant refrigerant cw hps refrigerant

5465 kg/h 5798 kg/h 221,400 kg/h 41,400 kg/h 40,032 kg/h

Heat Exchangers
E-1401 E-1402
A = 87.7 m2 A = 100.7 m2
Floating head, stainless steel, shell-and-tube design Floating head, stainless steel, shell-and-tube design
Q = 7493 MJ/h Q = 7950 MJ/h
(continued)

Heat Exchangers (Continued)
E-1403 E-1404
A = 3344.2 m2 Carbon steel, finned surface air coolers
Stainless steel, plate type (usually proprietary) Q = 6720 MJ/h
Q = 270,996 MJ/h Maximum pressure rating of 26 bar
E-1406
E-1405 A = 306.9 m2
A = 76.5 m2 Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design Process stream in shell side
Process stream in shell side Q = 70,402 MJ/h
Q = 9229 MJ/h Maximum pressure rating of 8 bar
E-1407
A = 436.5 m2
Floating head, stainless steel, shell-and-tube design
Q = 54,893 MJ/h
Pumps
P-1401 P-1402
Actual power = 85.2 kW Actual power = 1485.1 kW
P-1403 P-1404
Actual power = 0.7 kW Actual power = 505.0 kW
Towers
T-1401 T-1402
12 valve trays 13 valve trays
T-1403
Carbon steel
8 valve trays plus reboiler and condenser
24-in tray spacing
Column height = 16.2 m
Diameter = 3.6 m
156

Vessel
V-1401 V-1402
Vertical Vertical
V-1403 V-1404
Vertical Vertical
Compressor
C-1401
Carbon steel
W = 926,466 kW
75% isentropic efficiency
B.13.3 References
1. Bhattacharyya, D., R. Turton, and S. E. Zitney, “Steady State Simulation and Opti-
mization of an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Plant with CO2 Cap-
ture,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 50 (2011): 1674–1690.
2. Gross, J., and G. Sadowski, “Perturbed-Chain SAFT: An Equation of State Based on
a Perturbation Theory for Chain Molecules,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 40 (2001):
1244–1260.
3. Aspen Plus Model of the CO2 Capture Process by Selexol, 2008, pp. 1–22; www.as-
pentech.com.
4. Xu, Y., R. P. Schutte, and L. G. Hepler, “Solubilities of Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen
Sulfide and Sulfur Dioxide in Physical Solvents,” Can. J. Chem. Eng. 70 (1992):
569–573.
B.14 DESIGN OF A CLAUS UNIT FOR THE CONVERSION OF H2S TO ELEMENTAL

SULFUR, UNIT 1500
The Claus process is one of the most common processes for sulfur recovery from acid
gases generated in oil and gas refining. The Claus unit is designed to recover sulfur from
the acid gas recovered from an acid-gas removal (AGR) unit and the sour gas produced
from a sour-water stripper (SWS).

The PFD of the Claus process is shown in Figure B.14.1. The Claus unit is designed so
that it can process acid and sour-water gases generated in the operation of an integrated
gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant. Efficient design of a Claus process de-
pends upon high recovery of sulfur and complete destruction of other impurities such as
methane and ammonia [1–4]. It should be noted that elemental sulfur, in the operating
temperature range of the Claus unit, can exist as S2 and S8, among others. For simplicity,
only these two sulfur species will be considered.
Acid gas, Stream 2, from an acid-gas removal unit and sour-water gas, Stream 3,
from the sour-water stripper are preheated in E-1502 and E-1503, respectively, with high-
pressure steam and sent to the reaction furnace, H-1501, for combustion. Preheated,
enriched oxygen from an air separation unit (ASU) is used as the oxidant in H-1501.
Within the furnace, incomplete combustion of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide is
carried out. Additionally, partial combustion of ammonia can also take place. It is desired
that only one-third of the hydrogen sulfide contained in the gases be combusted to form a
2/1 ratio of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide. This 2/1 ratio of hydrogen sulfide to
sulfur dioxide is required to maximize sulfur yield in the downstream reactors. Primary
combustion reactions within H-1501 are
3 k1
H2S + O2 ¡ SO2 + H2O (B.14.1)
2
3 k2 1 3
NH3 + O2 ¡ N2 + H2O (B.14.2)
4 2 2
These highly exothermic reactions increase the temperature substantially (to about
1450°C) in H-1501. Several side reactions take place. The side reaction shown in Equation
(B.14.6) destroys any ammonia not combusted in Reaction (B.14.2).
k3
H2S + SO2 + H2 Δ S2 + 2H2O (B.14.3)
k4 1
H2S Δ S + H2 (B.14.4)
2 2
k5
CO2 + H2 Δ CO + H2O (B.14.5)
3 k6 1 3 3
NH3 + SO2 ¡ N2 + H2O + S2 (B.14.6)
4 2 2 8
The hot process gas is then cooled in E-1504 to generate high-pressure steam and
to quench the reactions taking place. At high operating temperatures, such as those in
H-1501, sulfur exists primarily as S2. As the cooling takes place in E-1504, the equilibrium
shifts as shown in Equation B.14.7. Due to the equilibrium shift, the primary sulfur
species present at the outlet of E-1504 is S8.
k7 1
S2 ÷ S (B.14.7)
4 8
Further cooling is carried out in E-1505 by generating low-pressure steam. This
cooled process gas is then sent to V-1501 to separate the liquid sulfur. The process gas is
then sent to the first stage of a two-stage process. The process gas is heated in E-1506 with
high-pressure steam before being sent to the reactor R-1501, where hydrogen sulfide and
sulfur dioxide react in a 2/1 ratio to form elemental sulfur via Equation (B.14.8) (known
as the Claus reaction). The reactor effluent is then cooled by generating low-pressure
steam in E-1507. The liquid sulfur is then removed in V-1502. The process gas is again
preheated in E-1508 with high-pressure steam. The heated gas is sent to the second-stage
catalytic reactor R-1502, where the reaction shown in Equation (B.14.8) takes place. The
reactor effluent is cooled in E-1509 using cooling water to condense the formed sulfur.
The process gas is then sent to a tail-gas treatment unit (not modeled here).
1 k8 3
H2S + SO2 Δ S + H2O (B.14.8)
2 16 8

Modeling of H-1501 can be simplified by assuming two zones within H-1501: an oxygen-
rich zone (known as the flame zone) where faster, exothermic combustion reactions
prevail, followed by an oxygen-deficient zone (known as the anoxic zone) where slower,
endothermic equilibrium reactions take place.
The combustion reactions will take place homogeneously within the gas phase. The
rate equations are of the form [1]
dp p pc
-Ei a b
-ri = ko,i expc (B.14.9)
RT H2S NH3 O2
where i is the equation number (B.14, i), and
i Ei ko,i a b c
kcal/kmol
1 11,000 1.40 × 104 1 0 1.5
2 40,000 4.43 × 106 0 1 0.75
The units of ri are kmol/s/m3-reactor, the units of pi are atm, and the units of ko,i
vary depending upon the form of the equation.
The rate equations for the reactions in Equations (B.14.3) through (B.14.6) are [1]
d apH2SpSO2 pH2 - expc -0.949 - dpS 2 p2H2O b (B.14.10)

-26.0 5840
-r3 = 3.58 * 107 expc
RT T
d apH2S p0.5 dpS2 pH2 b (B.14.11)

-45.0 10,880
-r4 = 9.17 * 105 expc S2 - expc -5.93 +
RT T
4166 CCOCH2O
d aCCO2C0.5 d b (B.14.12)
-60.3
-r5 = 1.52 * 1012 expc H2 - expc -3.88 +
RT T C0.5
H2
dCNH3CSO2
-27.5 0.25 0.5
-r6 = 2.29 * 104 expc (B.14.13)
RT
The units of ri are kmol/s/m3-reactor, the units of pi are atm, and the units of Ci are
kmol/m3.
The temperature dependence of the equilibrium between S2 and S8 shown in Equa-
tion (B15.7) is given as [1]
d
47,800
KP = expc -53.67 + (B.14.14)
T[K]
The reaction in Equation (B.14.7) is modeled in E-1504.
Equation (B.14.8) is catalyzed in R-1501 and R-1502 by either an alumina or a tita-
nium catalyst. Since Equation (B.14.8) is equilibrium limited and mildly exothermic, the
maximum allowable temperature of the catalyst is not a concern. However, significant
catalyst deactivation occurs when the temperature is lowered below the dew point of
sulfur, since the sulfur will deposit on the catalyst. For this reason, each reactor is operated
at a sufficiently high temperature to ensure that no sulfur condenses and deposits on the
catalyst. The rate equation for Equation (B.14.8) is [1]
dpH2Op0.1875
5550
pH2Sp0.5
SO2 - expc8.66 - S8
d± ≤
-7.35 T
-r8 = 5360 expc 2
(B.14.15)
a1 + 1.14 expc dpH2O b
RT -0.6
RT
The units of r8 are mol/s/kg-cat, and the units of pi are atm.

Due to the low-pressure operation, the ideal gas law was used to model the Claus
process. It should be noted that the Aspen Plus model of H-1501 was achieved by divid-
ing it into two zones: H-1501A to model the flame region, and H-1501B to model the
anoxic region. Both sections of the furnace are modeled as adiabatic reactors. As substoi-
chiometric oxygen is provided in the furnace to produce an H2S/SO2 ratio of 2/1,
H-1501A is modeled as a PFR in which the combustion Equations (B.14.1) and (B.14.2) are
considered. This is followed by H-1501B, a PFR, in which Equations (B.14.3) through
(B.14.6) are considered. Splitting the reaction furnace into two zones is computationally
efficient, since the rates of the combustion reactions occurring in the flame region are
greatly different from the reactions occurring in the anoxic region. Very fine discretiza-
tion is required to capture the rapid changes in composition and temperature that occur
as a result of the combustion reactions. For the slower equilibrium reactions occurring in
the anoxic region, a much coarser discretization can be used. If all reactions are modeled
in parallel and the discretization is not fine enough, the model will fail to converge due to
the rapid combustion reactions. If, however, the discretization is fine enough to capture
the rapid changes due to the combustion reactions, the time for convergence will unnec-
essarily be increased due to the very fine discretization used for the equilibrium reactions
that is not required.
It should be noted that because only combustion reactions are modeled in H-1501A,
the actual size of H-1501A is not significant for steady-state simulations as long as oxygen
is completely consumed. It should also be noted that in “real” Claus furnaces, a waste
heat boiler is an integral part of the furnace and is located at the end of the anoxic zone.
For convenience, this exchanger is modeled separately as E-1504.
Physical properties data for S2 and S8, if not available in a process simulator data-
bank, can be found in Perry’s handbook [5].
E-1501 E-1502 E-1503 H-1501 E-1504 E-1505 V-1501 E-1506 R-1501 E-1507
Oxygen SWS AGR Claus Waste Heat Waste Heat Sulfur Preheater 1 Claus Aftercooler 1
Heater Off-gas Unit Furnace Boiler Boiler Separator 1 Reactor 1

Heater Off-Gas (hps generator) (mps generator)
Heater
V-1502 E-1508 R-1502 E-1509 V-1503
Sulfur Preheater 2 Claus Aftercooler 2 Sulfur
5/11/12
Separator 2 Reactor 2 Separator 3

FIC 230
1 YC
12:21 AM
Oxygen E-1501 hps

YT
H-1501 A H-1502 B
Flame Anoxic YT
230 Zone Zone
FIC
H2S
SO2
2
Page 161
SWS E-1502 hps

Off-Gas H-1501 215
FIC E-1508
230
3
E-1503 hps 15
AGR Unit hps
Off-Gas To Tail-Gas
11
E-1506 240 Treatment
R-1502 Unit
hps mps 7 V-1502
E-1509
hps
4 5
V-1501 R-1501 V-1503
E-1504 12 13
E-1505 10
bfw bfw 9 cw
lps
LIC
14
6 8
T (°C) LIC E-1507 LIC
bfw
16
Sulfur to
Storage
Figure B.14.1 Unit 1500: Claus Unit Process Flow Diagram
161
Temperature (°C) 32 120 50 345
Pressure (bar) 10.0 2.4 2.1 1.7
Mass flow (tonne/h) 3.01 2.2 14.4 19.6
Mole flow (kmol/h) 94.7 85.9 388.1 553.9
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Hydrogen sulfide 0.0 23.9 159.1 40.3
Sulfur dioxide 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.1
Water 0.0 0.0 15.6 203.5
Carbon dioxide 0.0 16.9 174.1 142.8
Carbon monoxide 0.0 2.1 0.0 50.3
Oxygen 90.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Hydrogen 0.0 10.2 0.0 24.2
Nitrogen 4.7 1.3 31.3 57.1
Ammonia 0.0 31.6 7.9 0.0
S2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4
S8 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.2
Temperature (°C) 195 195 195 314
Pressure (bar) 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.3
Mass flow (tonne/h) 19.6 3.72 15.9 15.9
Mole flow (kmol/h) 553.8 15.3 538.5 529.4
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Water 203.5 0.7 202.8 232.0
Carbon dioxide 142.8 0.0 142.8 142.8
Oxygen 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Hydrogen 24.2 0.0 24.2 24.2
Nitrogen 57.1 0.0 57.1 57.1
Ammonia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
S2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1
S8 15.3 14.4 0.9 6.3
Temperature (°C) 175 175 175 234
Pressure (bar) 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.0
Mass flow (tonne/h) 15.9 1.51 14.4 14.4
Mole flow (kmol/h) 529.4 6.3 523.1 520.9
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Water 232.0 0.4 231.6 238.8
Carbon dioxide 142.8 0.0 142.8 142.8
Oxygen 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Hydrogen 24.2 0.0 24.2 24.2
Nitrogen 57.1 0.0 57.1 57.1
Ammonia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
S2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0
S8 6.3 5.8 0.5 1.8
Temperature (°C) 160 160 160 187
Pressure (bar) 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
Mass flow (tonne/h) 14.4 0.38 14.0 5.61
Mole flow (kmol/h) 520.9 1.6 519.3 23.15
Component flowrates
(kmol/h)
Water 238.8 0.1 238.7 1.2
Carbon dioxide 142.8 0.0 142.8 0.0
Oxygen 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Hydrogen 24.2 0.0 24.2 0.0
Nitrogen 57.1 0.0 57.1 0.0
Ammonia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
S2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3
S8 1.8 1.5 0.4 21.7
E-1501 E-1502 E-1503 E-1504
hps hps hps bfw

334.4 kg/h 213.0 kg/h 1574 kg/h 12,382 kg/h
E-1505 E-1506 E-1507 E-1508 E-1509
bfw hps bfw hps cw

1574 kg/h 531.2 kg/h 1272 kg/h 449.1 kg/h 34,320 kg/h

Heat Exchangers
E-1501 E-1502
A = 84.8 m2 A = 54.0 m2
Q = 565 MJ/h Q = 360 MJ/h
E-1503 E-1504
A = 114.0 m2 A = 193.7 m2
Q = 2659 MJ/h Q = 28,660 MJ/h
E-1505 E-1506
A = 112.9 m2 A = 103.3 m2
Fixed head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Process stream in tubes Process stream in tube
Q = 3619 MJ/h Q = 897 MJ/h
E-1507 E-1508
A = 105.1 m2 A = 48.3 m2
Process stream in tube Process stream in shell
Q = 2898 MJ/h Q = 759 MJ/h
E-1509
A = 48.3 m2
Floating head, carbon steel, shell-and-tube design
Process stream in tube
Q = 1434 MJ/h
Reaction Furnace
R-1501A R-1501B
Furnace (flame zone) Furnace (anoxic zone)
Refractory lined Refractory lined
Design pressure = 2 bar Design pressure = 2 bar
Reactors
R-1501 R-1502
Packed bed filled with catalyst Packed bed filled with catalyst
Height = 1.92 m Height = 1.92 m
Vessels
V-1501 V-1502
V-1503
Horizontal
Carbon steel
Length = 5.29 m
Diameter = 1.76 m
B.14.4 References
1. Jones, D., D. Bhattacharyya, R. Turton, and S. E. Zitney, “Rigorous Kinetic Modeling
and Optimization Study of a Modified Claus Unit for an Integrated Gasification
Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plant with CO2 Capture,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.,
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie201713n (2012).
2. Monnery, W. D., K. A. Hawboldt, A. Pollock, and W. Y. Svrcek, “New Experimental
Data and Kinetic Rate Expression for the Claus Reaction,” Chemical Engineering Sci-
ence 55 (2000): 5141–5148.
3. Hawboldt, K. A., “Kinetic Modeling of Key Reactions in the Modified Claus Plant
Front End Furnace,” Ph.D. thesis, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineer-
ing, University of Calgary, Canada, 1998.
4. Monnery, W. D., K. A. Hawboldt, A. E. Pollock, and W. Y. Svrcek, “Ammonia Pyrol-
ysis and Oxidation in the Claus Furnace,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 40 (2001): 144–151.
5. Perry, R. H., and D. W. Green, eds., Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, 7th ed.
(New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997).
B.15 MODELING A DOWNWARD-FLOW, OXYGEN-BLOWN, ENTRAINED-FLOW

GASIFIER, UNIT 1600
Gasifiers can be used for generating syngas from coal, petroleum coke (petcoke), biomass,
and similar feedstocks. In a gasifier, substoichiometric oxygen is provided to generate
syngas with a higher CO/CO2 ratio. Gasification reactions finally result in substantial
conversion of carbon (as high as 98% to 99%). There are various types of gasifiers. In this
project, a model of a downward-flow, oxygen-blown, entrained-flow gasifier will be
developed.

A process flow diagram of the oxygen-blown, entrained-flow gasifier is shown in Figure
B.15.1. Illinois no. 6 coal, Stream 1, is mixed with water, Stream 2, to form a slurry. Usually,
the slurry is produced in a tank by mixing coal with the appropriate amount of water
and then agitating for hours. For simplicity, uniform mixing can be assumed. The slurry
along with oxygen (95% pure by weight), Stream 3, is sent to the gasifier. In a typical gasi-
fier operation, the oxygen-to-coal ratio is manipulated to maintain the gasifier exit tem-
perature so that the ash remains molten and it can flow down the gasifier wall. However,
it is difficult to measure the gasifier exit temperature reliably and precisely due to the
harsh conditions. Therefore, only a ratio controller is shown in Figure B.15.1. The water-
to-coal ratio is manipulated to maintain the viscosity of the slurry. A number of reactions
take place in a gasifier. For simplicity, only the key reactions will be considered. As the
coal enters the gasifier, it gets thermally decomposed, releasing the volatile matter (VM)
and tar and leaving behind a high-carbon residue commonly known as char and ash,
which contains a number of minerals such as silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum oxide
(Al2O3), iron oxide (Fe2O3), calcium oxide (CaO), and magnesium oxide (MgO). The quan-
tity of the VM can be obtained from the proximate analysis of the coal. The tar produced
during the devolatilization reaction cracks further, generating gaseous species and char.
For simplicity, char and ash can be assumed to be graphitic carbon and pure silicon
dioxide, respectively. The product yield due to devolatilization and tar cracking can be
calculated by using the METC Gasifier Advanced Simulation (MGAS) model developed
by Syamlal and Bissett [1]. This model is based on analytical data of the coal such as prox-
imate and ultimate assays, tar composition, and so on, from extensive laboratory-scale
experiments that characterize the coal. It is assumed that all the sulfur in the coal is
converted to H2S, and all the nitrogen is converted to NH3. In addition, higher hydrocar-
bons produced are neglected. As both the devolatilization and tar cracking reactions are
usually rapid, they can be combined, and the combined yield of product can be written as
Coal : aCC + aCOCO + aCO2CO2 + aCH4CH4 + aH2H2
+ aH2OH2O + aH2SH2S + aNH3NH3 + aASHASH (B.15.1)

Subsequently, the following reactions take place:
k1
CO + 0.5O2 ¡ CO2 (B.15.2)
k2
CH4 + 2O2 ¡ CO2 + 2H2O (B.15.3)
k3
H2 + 0.5O2 ¡ H2O (B.15.4)
k4
C + 0.5O2 ¡ CO (B.15.5)
k5
C + CO2 ¡ 2CO (B.15.6)
k6
C + H2O ¡ CO + H2 (B.15.7)
CO + H2O Δ CO2 + H2 (B.15.8)

A number of other reactions also take place in the gasifier. For example, hydrogen
gasification of char results in methane. Methane participates in methane-steam reforming
and methane-CO2 reforming reactions. There are a number of reactions involving NH3
that are also not considered here for simplicity. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to
calculate precisely the carbon conversion in a gasifier by using the blocks available in
commercial process simulators. Complex hydrodynamics, strong interaction between
various species, presence of multiple phases, difficulty in characterizing coal, char, tar,
and ash are some of the key issues that are difficult to model in a process simulator. For
this reason, some deviations from the experimental/literature data will be observed in
the Stream 4 results reported in Table B.15.4.

The product yield (on a mass basis) due to devolatilization and tar cracking (Reaction
[B.15.1]) for Illinois no. 6 coal is calculated from Syamlal and Bissett [1] and reported in
Table B.15.2.
Table B.15.1 Proximate and Ultimate Analysis of Illinois No. 6 Coal (as Received)
Proximate Ultimate
Coal Moisture VM FC Ash C H O N S
Illinois No. 6 5.86 34.03 50.52 9.59 68.51 4.54 6.98 1.49 3.03
Table B.15.2 Product Yield (Mass Basis) in

Reaction (B.15.1) for Illinois No. 6 Coal
Yield Parameter in
Reaction (B12.1) Parameter Value
aFC 0.601
aCO 0.022
aCO2 0.012
aCH4 0.096
aH2 0.010
aH2O 0.113
aH2S 0.032
aNH3 0.018
aASH 0.096
The reaction kinetics for Reaction (B.15.2) is given by Westbrook and Dryer [2]:
bCO2 CCOC0.5
167,504 0.25 kmol
-rCO = 8.8 * 1011 expa - H2O (B.15.9)
RT m3 s
The reaction kinetics for Reaction (B.15.3) is given by Westbrook and Dryer [2]:
bCO2 CCH4 3
202,680 1.3 0.2 kmol
-rCH4 = 8.47 * 1010 expa - (B.15.10)
RT ms
The reaction kinetics for Reaction (B.15.4) is given by Jones and Lindstedt [3]:
bCH2 CO2
167,504 0.25 1.5 kmol
-rH2 = 2.72 * 1015T-1 expa - (B.15.11)
RT m3 s
For the char combustion reaction, Equation (B.15.5), the kinetics of the surface reac-
tions available in the open literature for a shrinking-core model [4] is used. For incorpo-
rating in a process simulator, the rate expression has been simplified by assuming that the
diffusive resistance in the ash layer is the dominating resistance to mass transfer. Further,
it is assumed that the char particles have a diameter of 400 µm, and the average operating
pressure of the gasifier is 24.5 atm. Subsequently, the reaction kinetics for Equation
(B.15.5) can be written as
byC yO2 3
113,070 2>3 kmol
-rC = 1.63 * 109 expa - (B.15.12)
RT m s
The kinetics for Equation (B.15.6) is given by Wen et al. [5]:
byCyCO2 3
175,880 kmol
-rC = 42,090 expa - (B.15.13)
RT ms
The kinetics for Equation (B.15.7) is given by Wen and Onozaki [5]:
byCyH2O 3
175,880 kmol
-rC = 42,090 expa - (B.15.14)
RT ms
The kinetics for Equation (B.15.8) is given by Wen and Onozaki [5]:
yCO2yH2 kmol
b ayCOyH2O - b
70,071
-rCO = 52.3 expa - (B.15.15)
RT Keq m3 s
In Equation (B.15.15),
d
4019
Keq = expc -3.689 + (B.15.16)
T
In the equations provided before, the activation energy is given in kJ/kmol, the
units of concentration are kmol/m3[[FR 3]] (gas), and T is in K whenever a specific unit is
needed.

In Section 13.7, fundamentals of solids modeling were discussed. Since coal is a heteroge-
neous mixture of complex materials, it is difficult to calculate its physical properties accu-
rately. Its enthalpy and density can be calculated using appropriate correlations or by
using experimental data, if available, at the operating conditions of the gasifier. Coal is
declared as type “NC” (nonconventional) in Aspen Plus. The chosen “enthalpy model” is
“HCOALGEN,” which is a special model for calculating enthalpy of streams comprising
coal. A number of empirical correlations are available for calculating heat of combustion,
heat of formation, and heat capacity. This enthalpy model can be chosen under
Data|Properties|Advanced|NC Props. Selection of correlations can be done by choosing
the appropriate “options code” value under “option code” number. The heat of combus-
tion is calculated by the available IGT (Institute of Gas Technology) correlation (option
code number 1, value 5), the standard heat of formation is calculated by a heat of combus-
tion-based correlation (option code number 2, value 1), and the heat capacity is calculated
by Kirov correlation (option code number 3, value 1). Elements are considered to be in
their standard states at 298.15 K and 1 atm (option code number 4, value 1). For calculat-
ing the coal density, density model “DCOALIGT” is chosen. This model can be selected
under Data|Properties|Advanced|NC Props. This model uses the IGT correlation for
density. For using the models “HCOALGEN” and “DCOALIGT,” the proximate, ulti-
mate, and sulfur analyses of coal are needed. The analysis is entered under the tab “Com-
ponent Attr.” of the Stream 1 specification window as per the data provided in Table
B.15.1. Sulfur is assumed to be equally distributed in the following “elements”: “pyritic,”
“sulfate,” and “organic.” In addition, carbon, sulfur, and ash are declared as type “solid,”
and all other species are declared as “conventional.” Stream class “MIXCINC” was
chosen so that the substream types “MIXED,” “CISOLID,” and “NC” are created to support
the conventional, solid, and nonconventional species. To promote rapid devolatilization
(Equation [B.15.1]) and subsequent combustion of the volatiles (Equations [B.15.2]
through [B.15.4]) within a short distance from the entrance of the gasifier, the gasifier
burner is designed to promote recirculation of a part of the hot combustion products. The
homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions (Equations [B.15.2] through [B.15.8]) continue
to take place through the gasifier. To represent these phenomena, a multizonal model can
be developed by dividing the gasifier R-1601 into three zones as shown in Figure B.15.2.
The first zone is represented by the block R-1601A, where only the reaction in Equation
(B.15.1) takes place. R-1601A can be simulated as an “RYield” block. The combustion of
the gaseous species (Equations [B.15.2] through [B.15.4]) is considered in the block
R-1601B. It is clear from the rate expressions given in Equations (B.15.9) through (B.15.11)
that they are very rapid at the gasifier operating temperature (above 1000°C). The oxygen
provided is much in excess of the stoichiometric requirement for combustion of the
volatiles that get produced in Equation (B.15.1). As a result, reactor R-1601B can be mod-
eled as an “RStoic” reactor in Aspen Plus. The temperature of R-1601A is specified at
500°C, and the required heat is removed from R-1601B. All the homogeneous and hetero-
geneous reactions (Equations [B.15.2] through [B.15.8]) are considered in R-1601C, which
is a PFR. The heat loss to the environment from the gasifier wall is considered by specify-
ing a uniform heat flux from the reactor. Equation (B.15.11) shows that the kinetics of
Equation (B.15.4) is very fast. As the gasifier temperature shoots up in the initial region of
the gasifier due to the exothermic combustion reactions, reactor R-1601C may fail to
converge. The pre-exponential factor in Equation (B.15.11) can be reduced by two to three
orders of magnitude to avoid convergence failure. This modification will have negligible
effect in the simulation results.
The stream data for the intermediate streams, Stream 51 and Stream 52, are pro-
vided in Table B.15.3. Since solids are included in this table and in Table B.15.4, mass
flowrates (instead of molar flowrates that are commonly reported in other examples) are
given.
Table B.15.3 Stream Table for the Intermediate Streams

in Unit 1600
Stream Number 51 52
Temperature (°C) 500 1050
Pressure (bar) 25.3 25.3
Mass flow (tonne/h) 100.0 233.0
Component flowrates
(tonne/h)
Coal 0.0 0.0
C 60.082 60.082
Ash 9.593 9.593
O2 0.0 40.796
CO 2.157 0.0
H2 1.027 0.0
CO2 1.196 30.834
H2O 11.349 82.018
H2S 3.221 3.221
N2 0.0 4.650
CH4 9.569 0.0
NH3 1.806 1.806
RC
5/11/12
FT FIC
12:21 AM
3
Oxygen
Page 171
FT
1
Coal
remote
RC set point R-1601
FT FIC
2
Water 4
Gasifier
Effluent
Figure B.15.1 Unit 1600: Flow Diagram of a Downward-Flow, Oxygen-Blown, Entrained-Flow Gasifier
171
172
FT
3
Oxygen
5/11/12
FT
1
Coal
12:21 AM
R-1601A
Page 172
51
2
R-1601B
Water
52
R-1601C
4
Gasifier
Effluent
Figure B.15.2 Unit 1600: Multizonal Approach for Modeling a Downward-Flow, Oxygen-Blown, Entrained-Flow Gasifier (Instrumentation
Lines Not Shown) (Note: This is not a process flow diagram; it is a representation of the simulation strategy.)
Stream No. 1 2 3 4
Temperature (°C) 40 40 50 1143
Pressure (bar) 25.3 26.3 26.3 24.3
Mass flow (tonne/h) 100.0 40.0 93.0 233.0
Component flowrates
(tonne/h)
Coal 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
C 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.237
Ash 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.593
O2 0.0 0.0 88.350 0.0
CO 0.0 0.0 0.0 119.805
H2 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.319
CO2 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.884
H2O 0.0 40.0 0.0 34.485
H2S 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.221
N2 0.0 0.0 4.650 4.650
CH4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
NH3 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.806

Reactors
R-1601C
Length = 10 m
Diameter = 2 m
Maximum allowable temperature = 1900°C
Refractory lined
Outer wall temperature = 180°C
Ambient temperature = 30°C
Overall heat transfer coefficient for environmental
heat loss calculation = 2 W/m2°C
B.15.4 References
1. Syamlal, M., and L. A. Bissett, “METC Gasifier Advanced Simulation (MGAS)
Model,” Technical Note, NITS Report No. DOE/METC-92/4108, 1992.
2. Westbrook, C. K., and F. L. Dryer, “Simplified Mechanism for the Oxidation of
Hydrocarbon Fuels in Flames,” Combustion Sci. Tech. 27 (1981): 31–43.
3. Jones, W. P., and R. P. Lindstedt, “Global Reaction Schemes for Hydrocarbon Com-
bustion,” Combustion and Flame 73 (1988): 233–249.
4. Wen, C. Y., and T. Z. Chaung, “Entrainment Coal Gasification Modeling,” Ind. Eng.
Chem Process Des. Dev. 18 (1979): 684–695.
5. Wen, C. Y., H. Chen, and M. Onozaki, “User’s Manual for Computer Simulation and
Design of the Moving Bed Coal Gasifier,” DOE/MC/16474-1390, 1982.

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qxd 5/11/12 12:21 AM Page 61

B.1 Dimethyl Ether (DME) Production, Unit 200

62 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

B.11 Production of Heptenes from Propylene and Butenes, Unit 1200

B.1 DIMETHYL ETHER (DME) PRODUCTION, UNIT 200

B.1.1 Process Description

LIC V-201 T-201

Table B.1.1 Stream Table for Unit 200

Component flowrates (kmol/h)

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 65

Table B.1.2 Utility Summary Table for Unit 200

Table B.1.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 200

66 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.1.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 200 (Continued)

B.1.2 Reaction Kinetics

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 67

B.1.3 Simulation (CHEMCAD) Hints

B.2 ETHYLBENZENE PRODUCTION, UNIT 300

68 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

B.2.1 Process Description [1, 2]

B.2.2 Reaction Kinetics

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 69

The reaction kinetics derived for a new catalyst are given as

380 380 V-302

Ethylene 280 170

Figure B.2.1 Unit 300: Ethylbenzene Process Flow Diagram

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 71

Table B.2.1 Stream Table for Unit 300

72 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.2.1 Stream Table for Unit 300 (Continued)

Table B.2.2 Utility Summary Table for Unit 300

bfw to bfw to bfw to bfw to cw to

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 73

Table B.2.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 300

74 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.2.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 300 (Continued)

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 75

Table B.2.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 300 (Continued)

B.2.3 Simulation (CHEMCAD) Hints

B.3 STYRENE PRODUCTION, UNIT 400

76 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

B.3.1 Process Description [1, 2]

The styrene product can spontaneously polymerize at higher temperatures. Because

B.3.2 Reaction Kinetics

poc 14 E-406 Benzene

Figure B.3.1 Unit 400: Styrene Process Flow Diagram

78 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 79

Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400 (Continued)

80 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.3.1 Stream Tables for Unit 400 (Continued)

Table B.3.2 Utility Summary for Unit 400

E-406 E-407 E-408 E-409

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 81

Table B.3.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 400

82 Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes

Table B.3.3 Major Equipment Summary for Unit 400 (Continued)

Appendix B Information for the Preliminary Design of Fifteen Chemical Processes 83

The equilibrium calculation is given as

total = N + 1 + x includes N moles of inert steam

B.3.3 Simulation (CHEMCAD) Hints

k2 1.55 1026 exp(− 88,000RT) (B.4.6)

k2 6.31 107 exp(−29,850RT) (B.5.7)

k3 2.33 104 exp(−21,429RT) (B.5.8)

k4 7.20 105 exp(−27,149RT) (B.5.9)

CH3OH S HCHO H2 ΔHrxn 20.3 kcalmole (B.7.2)